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PtIILADELPHIA  ALMSHOUSES 

AND  Hospitals 


.AWRENCE 


fiASi^2.T53l 


J=iL3 


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College  of  S^^v^kimi  anJii  burgeons 
llibrarp 


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Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

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http://www.archive.org/details/historyofphiladOOIawr 


HISTORY 


OF   THE 


PHILADELPHIA    ALMSHOUSES 


AND 


HOSPITALS 


FROM  THE  BEGINNING  OF  THE  EIGHTEENTH  TO  THE  ENDING  OF 
THE  NINETEENTH  CENTURIES, 


COVERING  A   PERIOD  OF 

NEARLY  TWO  HUNDRED  YEARS 

SHOWING  THE  MODE  OF 

DISTRIBUTING   PUBLIC    RELIEF  THROUGH    THE    MANAGEMENT   OF 

THE    BOARDS  OF  OVERSEERS  OF  THE    POOR,  GUARDIANS 

OF    THE     POOR    AND    THE     DIRECTORS     OF    THE 

DEPARTMENT     OF    CHARITIES    AND 

CORRECTION 

WITH    AN    APPKNDIX 

CONTAINING  A  LIST  OF  FORMER  VISITING  AND  RESIDENT  PHYSICIANS 


ILLUSTRATED  FROM  PHOTOGRAPHS 


COMPILED  AND   PUBLISHED    BY 

CHARLKS    LAWRENCE: 

SUPERINTENDENT   FROM   1891   TO   1900 
^905 


Copyright,   1905, 
By  Charles  La-wrence. 


All  Rio/its  Reserved. 


TO 

MAJOR  WILLIAM   H.    LAMBERT, 

WHOSE  EXCELLENT  SERVICES 

AS 

PRESIDENT   OF   THE   BOARD   OF   DIRECTORS 

OF 

THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  CHARITIES  AND  CORRECTION 

SHOUI.D   EVER  BE 

HELD   IN  GRATEFUL   REMEMBRANCE 

THIS 

VOLUME  IS   DEDICATED 

AS 

A  SLIGHT  TOKEN   OF  RESPECT  AND   ESTEEM. 


PREFACE. 


IN  THE  preparation  of  the  following  "  History  of  the  PhiladeliDhia 
Almshouses  and  Hospitals ' '  the  fact  was  borne  in  niind  that  history 
must  be  a  truthful  account  of  happenings  and  anything  inserted 
that  is  not  true  destroys  its  value  and  it  ceases  to  be  reliable. 

In  collecting  the  data  all  kinds  of  official  records,  minute  books,  laws, 
ordinances,  reports,  addresses,  histories  and  newspapers  were  consulted  to 
obtain  the  desired  information  ;  in  fact,  consideration  was  given  to  every- 
thing available  that  was  trustworthy.  This  was  arranged  to  make  a 
continued  and  connected  statement  of  the  government  of  the  institutions 
and  the  distribution  of  the  public  charities  from  the  beginning  of  the 
Eighteenth  to  the  close  of  the  Nineteenth  Centuries,  covering  a  period  of 
nearly  two  hundred  years. 

The  great  difficulties  under  which  some  of  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  labored  are  referred  to,  and  enough  stated  to  show  the  character  of 
the  men  engaged  in  the  work. 

The  principal  events  that  created  scandal  and  reflected  on  the  manage- 
ment are  shown  from  official  records  and  they  tend  to  make  the  good 
work  performed  appear  brighter  and  better  by  comparison. 

The  great  improvement  made  in  the  treatment  of  the  inmates,  espec- 
ially in  the  Insane  and  Hospital  Departments,  are  noted,  and  it  is  very 
gratifying  to  know  that  with  the  exception  of  the  limited  capacity  of 
the  wards  it  will  compare  favorably  with  that  of  any  in  this  country. 

As  the  transferring  of  the  ground  purchased  for  the  present  Alms- 
house, to  other  Trustees  for  other  purposes,  prevents  the  proper  enlarge- 


6  Preface. 

merit  of  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  constantly  growing 
population,  thereby  necessitating  removal,  the  ordinances  providing  for 
the  transfers  are  quoted  fully,  together  with  the  provisos  and  agreements 
forming  part  of  them.  A  careful  reading  will  show  how  much  they  have 
been  complied  with. 

Nine  years  experience  as  Superintendent  of  the  institution,  in  addi- 
tion to  a  knowledge  of  the  details  of  previous  administrations,  were  of 
considerable  value  in  preparing  the  manuscript,  and  although  much  labor 
was  involved  it  was  cheerfully  given  in  an  endeavor  to  make  it  as  near 
complete  as  possible. 

A  carefully  prepared  list  of  the  former  Visiting  and  Resident  Phy- 
sicians will  be  found  in  the  Appendix. 

C.  L. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER    I. 

DESCRIPTION   OF    FIRST  ALMSHOUSE— SPRUCE  STREET    ALMSHOUSE 

OPENED 17 

William  Penn  Advocates  Charity — First  Almshouse  Established  b}'  the 
"  Friends'  " — Acts  Relating  to  Almshouses — Description  of  Friends'  Almshouse 
— Order  of  17 17,  Compelling  Paupers  to  "Wear  Roman  P  on  their  Sleeves — Act 
to  Authorize  the  Erection  of  Workhouses  in  Philadelphia,  Bristol  and  Chester 
— Overseers  Present  Memorial  to  the  Legislature  in  1729 — Act  to  Loan  the 
Mavor  ^1,000  to  Purchase  Ground  and  to  Erect  an  Almshouse — Building 
Erected  in  17.^1  or  1732 — Hospital  for  Sick  and  Insane  Connected  with  the 
Almshouse — Philadelphia  Hospital  the  Oldest  in  this  Country — Act  to  Regu- 
late Legal  Settlements— Complaints  Against  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor — "  Con- 
tributors to  the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor"  Incorporated — First 
Meeting  Held  May  12,  1766 — List  of  Managers — Lot  Bounded  by  Spruce,  Pine, 
Tenth  and  Eleventh  Streets  Purchased  for  ^800 — Motto  Adopted  for  Seal — 
Overseers  Elected  to  Distribute  Out-door  Relief—  New  Almshouse  and  House  of 
Employment— Opening  October,  1767 — Friction  Between  Officials — ^John  Dick- 
inson, Esq.,  Celebrated  his  Wedding  by  Donating  ^"200  to  the  Poor — Flooded 
by  Nova  Scotia  Exiles — Severe  Winter  of  1775— John  Petty  and  William 
Carter  Died— Their  Wills  Provided  for  Distribution  of  Bread — Manner  of 
Selecting  Overseers — Troops  Interfered  with  Holding  Meetings  in  Court  House 
— Board  Adjourned  to  Meet  at  the  "Golden  Fleece"— Trying  Times  for  the 
Poor. 

CHAPTER  II. 
PAUPERS  TURNED    INTO  THE  STREETS  BY    THE   BRITISH— STUDENTS 

ALLOWED  TO   PRACTICE 27 

Sick  Soldiers  Quartered  in  the  House  of  Employment — Mr.  Willing  Donated 
100  Cords  of  Wood — Other  Donations  Sent— New  Board  Appointed — British 
Army  took  Possession  of  the  City — Overseers  Unable  to  Perform  their  Func- 
tions— ^Sick  Soldiers  from  General  Howe's  Army  Fill  an  Entire  Wing  of  the 
Almshouse — Managers  Ordered  to  Clear  the  House  for  the  "  King's  troops  " — 
Managers  Refuse  to  do  so — All  of  the  Inmates  Turned  into  the  Streets  by  the 
British — Only  82  of  the  200  Survive  the  Exposure — Terrible  Trials  of  the  Patri- 
otic Colonists — British  Evacuated — New  Overseers  Appointed— ^2,000  Bor- 
rowed— Sick  and  Wounded  Continental  Soldiers  Fill  a  Wing  of  the  House  of 
Employment — Act  to  Authorize  Loan  of  ^"5,000 — Money  could  not  be  Procured 
— Overseers  Advanced  I300  Each  and  Took  the  Risk — ^John  Dickinson,  Esq., 
Again  Comes  to  the  Relief — Difficulties  in  Money  Affairs — Portions  of  the 
Almshouse  Rented  to  the  United  vSlates  Government  for  Accommodation  of 
Sick  or  Wounded  Prisoners — Act  to  Vest  the  Overseers  with  the  Powers  of  the 
Contributors— Remonstrance — Board  Pleads  for  Assistance — Charges  that 
Abuses  Prevailed  Investigated — Report — More  Friction — Crooked  Work  at 
"Potter's  Field  "— Census  of  House— How  Inmates  were  Employed — Trouble 
with  Disreputable  Characters — Rum  Exchanged  for  Clothing,  etc. — Changes 
made  in  1788 — Overseers  Incorporated  under  the  Title  of  "  Guardians  of  the 
Poor"— Old  Board  Abolished — Students  Allowed  to  Practice  in  the  House — 
Financial  Difficulties — Steward  and  Matron  Reprimanded. 

7 


8  Contents. 

CHAPTER  III. 

YELLOW  FEVER  EPIDEMICS— DISTINGUISHED  PHYSICIANS  ON  DUTY  .         38 

Distinguished  Physicians  on  Duty — Memorial  Re^jarding'' Potter's  Field" — 
Complaints  Against  Invalid  Pensioners — Modification  of  "Poor  Laws" 
Requested— Epidemic  of  Yellow  Fever  in  1793 — Noble  Conduct  of  Stephen 
Girard  and  Peter  Helm — Thanks  to  Steward  and  Matron — Resignation  of 
Steward  Cummings — Election  of  Aaron  Musgrave — Resignation  of  Steward 
Musgrave — Election  of  Jacob  Phillips— Yellow  Fever  again  in  179S — Whooping 
Cough — Clinical  Lectures  Introduced — Act  to  Change  Mode  of  Selecting 
Guardians — Another  Fever  Panic  in  1803 — Steward  Phillips  Died  at  His  Post — 
Serious  Quarrel  Between  Doctors — Dr.  Philip  Syng  Physic  Makes  Report^ 
John  Trout  Elected  Steward — Abuses  in  the  Hospital. 

CHAPTER  IV. 

TERRIBLE   CONDITION   OF   INSANE     PATIENTS  — BAD     CONDITION     OF 

SURGICAL   WARDS 49 

More  Room  Needed — Legislature  Applied  to  for  ^50,000 — Yellow  Fever  again 
in  1805 — Thomas  Barry's  Actions — Charges  Against  Matron — Influenza  in  1807 
— More  Investigations — Interesting  Reports — Case  of  Mary  Lawyer — Goods 
Manufactured — Stephen  Girard  a  Customer — -Premiums  Awarded  by  the 
"  Philadelphia  Premium  Society  " — First  Move  to  Locate  Almshouse  on  Farm 
— Case  of  Robert  Easton — Steward  McFall  Dismissed — Changes  in  Manufactur- 
ing Department — Terrible  Condition  of  Insane  Patients —Resolution  to  Govern 
Preaching — Bad  Condition  of  Surgical  Wards. 

CHAPTER  V. 

CONDITIONS  DURING  THE  WAR  OF  181 2-1 5— REPORT   OF  DR.   RUSH  ON 

FEVER 59 

Condition  of  Insane  Patients  in  181 2 — Population  Increased  by  Outbreak  of 
War — Steward  Mason  Resigns — ^J.  A.  Inslee  Elected — Report  on  Application 
of  the  Evangelical  Society — Prayer  Adopted  for  the  Childrens'  School — News- 
paper Comments — Report  of  Dr.  Rush  on  the  Fever  Prevailing  in  the  Alms- 
house— Thanks  to  the  Steward — Fever  Again  in  1820 — Medical  Students  Sup- 
pressed Facts — Amusing  Report  on  the  Liquor  Question — Another  Change  in 
Management — Anxiety  About  the  Binding  of  Children — Case  of  David  Jacobs — 
Association  for  the  Care  of  Colored  Children  Founded  by  Quaker  Ladies — Pur- 
chase of  Building  for  Childrens'  Asylum — Complaints  About  Manner  of  Burying 
the  Dead — Investigation  and  Report — Additions  Made  to  the  Buildings— Con- 
ference Regarding  the  Imprisonment  of  Boys  and  Girls — Report  on  Abuses  of 
Out-door  Relief. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

SMALL  POX  HOSPITAL  AT  BUSH  HILL— ACT  TO   REMOVE  ALMSHOUSE  71 

Action  to  Relieve  Elizabeth  Helm — Mr.  Truman's  Resolution  to  Remove  Alms- 
house to  a  Farm — Fugitive  Slave  Case — Small  Pox  Hospital  at  Bush  Hill — 
Act  to  Remove  Almshouse— Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  Commissioners  to  Erect 
Buildings  Provided  for — List  of  Those  Elected — Committee  to  Select  Site — 
Bids  Advertised  for^List  of  Bids  Offered — Ground  Purchased — Deed  of 
Property. 


Contents. 


CHAPTER   VII. 
PIvANS  FOR  BUIIvDING  NEW  ALMSHOUSE— HOUSE  OF  REFUGE  OPENED        84 
Joint  Committee  on  Plans  Appointed— Report— Plans  Advertised  for — William 
Strickland's  Plans  Adopted— Wharf  Provided  for — Proposals  for  Five  Per  Cent. 
Loan — House  of  Refuge   Opened — Committee   on    Buildings   Make  Report — 
Physicians  Present  Their  Views. 

CHAPTER  VIII. 

REPORT   ON    LOCATION   OF  NEW   HOSPITAL " 91 

Report  of  Committee  on  Location  of  Hospital. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

CORNER  STONE  OF  NEW  ALMSHOUSE  LAID 103 

Incompetency  of  Steward  Shown  by  Report — Act  to  Restrict  Out-door  Reliefs 
Bill  to  Repeal  It  Introduced— Memorial  Sent  by  the  Guardians — Mr.  Strickland 
Engaged  as  Supervising  Architect— Plans  Approved— Coiitrdcts  Awarded— 
Change  in  Plans — Corner-stone  Laid— Work  Stopped  Owing  to  Friction 
Between  the  Two  Boards— Claims  Made — More  Contracts  Awarded. 

CHAPTER  X. 

EPIDEMIC  OF  CHOLERA,  1832— SERVICES  OF  SISTERS  OF  CHARITY  .  115 
Information  Requested  by  Councils — Reply— Plans  Again  Agreed  Upon — 
Advertisements — More  Contracts— Materials  Purchased  Without  Contracts — 
Guardians  Want  Work  Hurried — Guardians  Want  Information  from  the  Com- 
missioners— Epidemic  of  Cholera  in  1832— Well  Inmates  Sent  to  Unfinished 
Buildings  in  "  Blockley"— Commodore  Barron  Requested  by  the  Guardians  to 
Allow  Paupers  to  be  Put  in  the  Naval  Asylum — Commissioners  Instructed  to 
Build  Sheds  for  the  Sick — Two  Physicians  Employed  for  the  "  House  over 
Schuylkill  " — Application  Made  for  the  Services  of  the  "  Sisters  of  Charity" — 
Terrible  Conditions  Existing  in  Almshouse— Much  Admiration  Shown  for  the 
Conduct  of  the  "Sisters" — Thanks  to  Bishop  Kendrick  and  the  Revs.  Messrs. 
Kiely,  Hughes  and  Donohue— Building  Rented  on.  Broad  Street — Hospital 
Opened— Paupers  Returned— Officials  Paid  for  Services  "  Over  the  River" — 
Committee  Appointed  to  Make  Arrangements  for  Moving  and  to  Sell  the  Spruce 
Street  Property — Board  Notified  that  the  Sisters'  Work  was  Done — Resolutions 
of  Thanks  Adopted  and  Printed — Commissioners'  Answers  to  Queries  not  Sat- 
isfactory— Strong  Resolutions  Adopted. 

CHAPTER  XI. 

FIRST  REGULAR  MEETING  HELD   IN  NEW  ALMSHOUSE 127 

More  Friction — Guardians  Notified  the  Commissioners  that  Paupers  would  be 
Removed  Between  the  ist  and  loth  of  April,  1834 — Committee  to  Arrange  for 
Omnibus  Line  Between  the  Exchange  and  the  New  Almshouse — Tolls  Over 
the  Market  Street  Bridge— April  Passed,  Building  not  Ready — Treasurer's 
Report  on  Loans  Negotiated— More  Strong  Resolutions— Dr.  Harlan  Advocates 
a  Medico-Botanical  Garden — Preparations  Made  for  Removal — President  Gives 
Notice  of  the  Occupancy  of  the  New  Almshouse  and  Removal  of  the  Office — 
First  Regular  Meeting  of  the  Board  in  the  New  Buildings— Census  of  the  House 
at  Time  of  Removal — Esther  Water's  Legacy  to  the  Poor— Colored  People  who 
Left  their  Homes  on  Account  of  Riot  Permitted  to  Occupy  Spruce  Street 
House— Complaints  Against  Dr.  Calhoun — Roads  from  the  Wharf  to  the  House 


10  Contents. 

and  from  the  House  to  Darby  Road  Provided  for— Notice  Given  of  the  Sale  of 
the  Spruce  Street  Property — Terms  of  Sale  Reported — Price  of  Ground  Limited 
to  ^125,000 — Richard  Smethurst's  Bid — Failed  to  Pay— Again  Offered  but  Not 
Sold — Sold  at  Last — Commissioners  Surrender  House  of  Employment  and 
Women's  Almshouse — Notice  Regarding  Out-door  Relief— Auctioneer  "Wolbert 
Paid — Childrens'  Asylum  on  Fifth  Street  Sold — Description  of  New  Almshouse 
— Ferry  Established — River  Banks  Constructed — Graveyard — Stone  Barn  and 
Farm  House  Built— School-Room  Furnished  for  Cliildreu — First  Steward  of 
Blockley — Cost  to  Date. 

CHAPTER  XII. 

HOW   BLOCKLEY   GOT  ITS  NAME 139 

How  Blockley  Got  Its  Name— Efforts  to  Utilize  the  Labor'  of  Inmates— Report 
on  Dependent  Foreigners— List  of  Guardians— Pleasaut  Ending  of  the  Work  of 
the  Commissioners — How  Other  Almshouses  in  the  County  were  Authorized — 
Auditing  Committee's  Report  of  the  Cost — Head  Money — Case  of  John  Enhart 
and  Eliza  Worl — Panic  of  1837 — Commissioners  of  Moyamensing  Desire  to 
have  the  Benefits  of  Blockley — Cost  of  Maintaining  the  Steward's  Table — 
Changes  Made — Report  on  Distribution  of  Meat — Tie  Vote  on  the  Election  of 
Steward. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

SECRETARY    AND    TREASURER    DEFAULTERS-REPORT  ON  CAUSE  OF 

PAUPERISM 150 

Another  Change  in  Management — Charges  Against  the  Secretary  of  the  Board 
—Solicitor  Requested  to  Enter  Suit — Treasurer  also  a  Defaulter — Report  on 
the  Cause  of  Pauperism — Mismanagement  Shown — Moyamensing  Admitted — 
Lack  of  Management  in  the  Medical  Department — Resident  Physicians  Leave 
Without  Giving  Notice— Revolting  Conditions  Shown  by  Report  of  Committee 
— Change  in  Management — Chief  Resident  Physician  Elected. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PROTEST  REGARDING  GRAVEYARDS— POOR  HEATING  AND  VENTILATION      160 

Protest  Regarding  Graveyard— Nurse  Welsh  and  Guardian  Abbott— Vote  of 
Censure — Mr.  Abbott  Again — Newspaper  Comment— Poor  Heating  and  Ven- 
tilation—Dr.  Benedict  Reports  on  the  Temperature  of  the  Insane  Department 
—Contract  made  for  Apparatus  to  Remedy  it— Trouble  with  Mr.  Stewart,  a 
Member  of  the  Board — Reply  to  the  Grand  Jury. 

CHAPTER  XV.      . 

FIRST  FEMALE  PHYSICIAN    EMPLOYED— CHOLERA   AGAIN   IN    1849  .    .        176 

Cholera  Again  in  1849 — Precautionary  Measures  Taken — Hospital  Opened — 
Alarming  Death  Rate  in  Almshouse — Committee's  Report — Resignation  of  Dr. 
Benedict— Election  of  Dr.  Haines— First  Female  Physician  Employed — Heat- 
ing Apparatus  not  Satisfactory — Board  Refuses  to  Pay  Bill— Suit  Entered— 
Settled  by  Compromise— Resolution  of  Board— Building  Purchased  for  Ofi&ce 
on  North  Seventh  Street — Charges  Against  Certain  Members  of  the  Board 
Investigated— Two  Reports  Made— Bad  State  of  Affairs  Shown  by  Subsequent 
Report — Mr.  Abbott  Mixed  Up  in  the  Disreputable  Business — Resolution  to 
Expel  Two  Members  Laid  on  the  Table. 


Contents.  11 

CHAPTER  XVI. 

CONSOLIDATION  ACT  PASSED-P.  &  W.  C.  RAILROAD  TRACKS  LAID  .  184 
Scandal  Revived— Tracks  Laid  for  P.  &  W.  C.  Railroad  Across  Almshouse 
Ground— Damages  Paid— Office  of  Childrens'  Visitor  'Created— Consolidation 
Act  Passed — Complete  Change  in  Management— Members  of  the  Board  Elected 
by  the  People— List  of  those  Elected— Death  of  Dr.  Steward,  Election  of  Dr. 
Campbell— Charges  Against  the  President— Investigation  and  Report— Re- 
organization—Money  Applied  for— Charges  Against  New  President— Cholera 
Again  in  1854 — More  Scandal,  More  Investigation,  More  Reports— One  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty  Paupers  Sent  from  New  York — Mr.  Cross  Dismissed  from  the 
Board — Profligate  Habits  of  Some  of  the  Members. 

CHAPTER   XVII. 

GUARDIANS  OF  THE  POOR  KNOWN  AS  BOARD  OF  BUZZARDS  ....  192 
Re-organization— Dr.  R.  K.  Smith  Elected— Dr.  Campbell  Threatens  to  Enter 
Suit  Against  Certain  Members  of  Board— Bad  Feeling  Between  Councils  and 
Guardians — Appropriations  Refused — All  Kinds  of  Charges  Made— Committee 
Makes  Spicy  Report— Mayor  Conrad  Refers  to  Board  in  Strong  Language— 
Out-door  Relief  Suspended,  Excepting  in  Cases  of  Sickness— Board  Re-organ- 
ized—Dr.  Campbell  Re-instated— Board  Soon  Known  as  the  "  Board  of  Buz- 
zards "—By  Request  of  Mayor  Vaux,  Dr.  Campbell  Makes  Report  of  Condirions. 

CHAPTER   XVIII. 

MEMBERS   OF   BOARD    CHARGED   WITH   SELLING   DEAD   BODIES.   ...        203 
Communication  Sent  to  Councils — Members  of  the  Board  Charged  with  Selling 
the  Bodies  of  Dead  Paupers — Trouble  Accumulates— More  Correspondence. 

CHAPTER  XIX. 

DR.    JAMES    McCLINTOCK   ELECTED— VISITING   PHYSICIANS   RESIGN— 
RESIDENT   PHYSICIANS   LEAVE— VISITS  OF    STUDENTS    STOPPED— 

GAS  INTRODUCED 212 

Dr.  Campbell  Resigns— Dr.  James  McClintock  Elected— Visiting  Physicians 
Resign — Resident  Physicians  Leave  the  Institution — Change  of  Management 
of  the  Medical  Department— Visits  of  Students  Stopped— Panic  of  1857-58— 
Charges  Against  One  of  the  Visitors— Gas  Introduced— New  Board— Dr.  Smith 
Re-instated— Letter  from  Dr.  McClintock— More  Charges  of  Selling  Dead 
Eodies — Dr.  Smith  Mixed  Up  in  Scandals — More  Appeals  for  Money— Rumors 
of  "  Crooked  Work  " — Resolutions  Adopted — Mr.  Kames'  Strong  Resolution — 
Mr.  Hoopes  gives  Vent  to  his  Indignation — Dr.  Smith  Assails  Mr.  Brown — 
Fire  in  1858 — Singular  Preamble — Another  Resolution  from  Mr.  Hoopes. 

CHAPTER  XX. 

THEFT  OF  SIX  HUNRDED   AND  NINETY  BARRELS  OF  FLOUR  CHARGED 

—CHARGES   OF   CORRUPTION  IN  THE   AIR 223 

Dr.  Smith  Again— Mr.  Armstrong  Charges  the  Theft  of  690  Barrels  of  Flour- 
Committee  of  Investigation  Makes  Majority  Report — Expulsion  of  Mr.  Arm- 
strong by  Vote  of  the  Board— Mr.  Armstrong  Attends  Next  Meeting— Vote  of 
Expulsion  Reconsidered— Minority  Report  Offered- Councils  Appoint  Com- 
mittee to  Investigate  Flour  Transactions  — Mr.  Kames  Offers  Resolution— Mr. 
Armstrong  Charges  Fraud  Connected  with  Meat— Mr.  Armstrong  Resigns  from 
the  Board— Charges  of  Corruption  from  All  Quarters — Whitewashing  Report^ 
Report  of  Councils  Investigating  Committee— No  Whitewash  in  That— Mr. 
Kames'  Testimony — Queer  Explanations. 


12  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XXI. 

RE-ORGANIZATION— LIBERAL  OFFER  OF  HOMEOPATHIC  PHYSICIANS  .  233 
Act  Changing  Mode  of  Selecting  Guardians— Members  Selected  Under  the  New 
Law — Newspaper  Comments  on  the  New  Board— Last  Meeting  of  the  Old 
Board,  as  Reported  in  Minute  Book — Same  as  Reported  in  Newspaper — New 
Board  Organized — Reorganization  of  Medical  Department— Liberal  Offer  of 
Homeopathic  Physicians— Dr.  Smith  Legislated  Out  of  OfBce— He  Declines  to 
Leave,  but  He  Alters  His  Mind — Omission  of  a  Bid  for  Supplying  Meat  Caused 
Considerable  Discussion  Action  of  Board  Condemned  by  Newspapers — 
Trouble  About  Whiskey. 

CHAPTER   XXII. 

PATHOLOGICAL  MUSEUM— STUDENTS  ADMITTED    FREE— BAKE  HOUSE 

ERECTED  ...  247 

Vagrants  Discussed— Bakehouse  Erected— Editorial  Entitled  "  God  Help  the 
Poor" — House  of  Correction  Considered— Cells  in  Vaults  of  Insane  Depart- 
ment— More  Abuses  in  Out-door  Relief— More  Reports  of  Robbing  the  Grave- 
yard— Editorial  Entitled  "Modern  Body  Snatching  "—Collecting  Wagered 
Money — Efforts  to  Enlarge  Insane  Department— Pathological  Museum — Stu- 
dents Admitted  Free. 

CHAPTER  XXIII. 

HOUSE    AGENT    DISMISSED— WORKSHOPS    AND     RECEIVING     VAULTS 

ERECTED 25(> 

New  Workshop  Erected— Comment— A  Needed  Regulation -Small  Pox  Hos- 
pital Closed — Spicy  Correspondence — Report  of  Visitors— Distress  Caused  by 
Outbreak  of  the  Rebellion— Efforts  to  Establish  Foundling  Asylum— House 
Agent  Dismissed — Act  Authorizing  Sale  of  Almshouse  Property— Patriotic 
Resolutions  Employment  of  Homeopathic  Physicians  Advocated — Scandal 
Connected  with  Graveyard  Robberies  Revived — Receiving  Vault  Erected — New 
Clinic  Hall  Dedicated. 

CHAPTER   XXIV. 

INSANE  CONVICTS  RETURNED  FROM  STATE  HOSPITALS— STEAM  HEAT- 
ING  INTRODUCED 26.5. 

Insane  Convicts  Returned  from  State  Hospitals -Resident  Physicians  Punish 
Patients  by  Use  of  Shower  Baths — Strong  Resolutions  Adopted — Stockings  Made 
and  Sent  to  Soldiers— Decrease  of  Population — Appropriation  Reduced — Copper 
Removed  from  Roofs — Suicide  of  Insane  Patient — Foundling  Asylum  Again 
Considered— Rules  Governing  the  Receiving  Vault  Not  Obeyed— Editorial 
Entitled  "  Buzzardism  Revived  "—Erection  of  Municipal  Hospital — Communi- 
cation from  the  Junction  R.  R.  Co. ^Feeble-Minded  Children  Sent  to  Training 
School  at  Media — Steam  Heating  Started— Doctors  Drafted  for  the  Army- 
President  Maris  Resigns— Mr.  M.  H.  Dickinson  Elected— Four  Steam  Boilers 
Contracted  For — Mr.  Dickinson  Resigns— Mr.  George  Erety  Elected. 

CHAPTER  XXV. 

TERRIBLE    ACCIDENT    IN    INSANE      DEPARTMENT— NEW     MUNICIPAL 

HOSPITAL  OPENED 274 

Terrible  Accident  in  Insane  Department — Number  Killed — Verdict  of  Coroner's 
Jury — Report  Regarding  Mortality  in  Children's  Asylum— Harmony  Restored — 
Resignation  of  Dr.  Gross — Effect  of  War  on  Population  of  the  House-  New 
Municipal  Hospital  Opened— Report  to  Governor  of  the  State— General  Wag- 
ner Offers  Resolution  Regarding  the  Purchase  of  Petty's  Island— President 
Erety  Dies — Dr.  Agnew  Resigns. 


Contents.  13 

CHAPTER   XXVI. 

FIRST   GROUND   SOLD   TO   U.  OF   P.— WINGS  TO  INSANE   DEPARTMENT 

BUILDINGS 283 

First  Ground  Sold  to  the  University  of  Pennsylvania— Additional  Winjjs  to 
Insane  Department  Erected— Another  Change  in  Mode  of  Selecting  Guard- 
ians—More Land  Transferred  to  University— Land  Transferred  for  Police  Sta- 
tion House— Foundling  Asylum  Again  Considered— Directors  of  Pennsylvania 
Institution  for  Deaf  and  Dumb  Apply  for  Ground— Ordinance  to  Remove  the 
Almshouse. 

CHAPTER   XXVII. 


295 


COMMITTEE  TO  INVESTIGATE  CHARGES  OF  MALADMINISTRATION  AND 
CORRUPT   PRACTICES 

Resignation  of  Steward  Henszey— Major  Ellis  P.  Phipps  Elected— Laud  Trans- 
ferred for  Use  of  Highway  Department  — House  of  Correction  Opened— Increase 
of  Expenditures— Marsh  Land  Sold  to  Mr.  W.  H.  Wilson— DisE<itisfaction  with 
Management  Manifested— Petitions  Sent  to  Councils— Committee  Appointed 
by  Common  Council  to  Investigate  Charges  of  Maladministration  and  Corrupt 
Practices— Another  Piece  of  Ground  Transferred  to  the  University— Ground 
Sold  to  H.  K.  Fox  and  W.  C.  Allison-  Information  Regarding  Free  Beds  Re- 
quested of  the  University  by  Councils— Reply  of  Provost  Pepper. 

CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

REPORT  OF  INVESTIGATING   COMMITTEE S03 

Scathing  Report  of  Council's  Investigating  Committee— Certain  Members  of 
the  Board  of  Guaidians  Requested  to  Resign. 

CHAPTER  XXIX. 

TRAINING    SCHOOL    FOR    NURSES   ESTABLISHED— TERRIBLE   FIRE   IN 

INSANE    DEPARTMENT— SUPERINTENDENT    PHIPPS     ARRESTED  .    .        313 

Superintendent  Phipps  Resigns— He  is  Arrested— Flees  to  Canada— Appre- 
hended and  Brought  Back— Tried,  Convicted  and  Sent  to  Prison— Other  Offi- 
cials Convicted— Re-organization  of  the  Board— President  Huggard  and  Super- 
tendent  Scarborough  Make  Reports— Two  Important  Laws  Passed— Children 
More  than  Two  Years  Old  not  to  be  Kept  in  Almshouses  More  than  Sixty 
.Days— Bodies  of  Persons  Dying  in  the  Almshouses  to  be  Surrendered  to  Ana- 
tomical Board  Under  Certain  Conditions — Mr.  George  H.  Smith  Elected 
Superintendent— Ground  Set  Aside  for  Public  Park— Training  School  for 
Nurses  Established— Terrible  Fire  in  Insane  Department— Number  of  Patients 
Burned  to  Death — Report  of  Investigating  Committee. 

CHAPTER   XXX. 

BULLITT  BILL   GOES   INTO  EFFECT— CHANGE  IN  MANAGEMENT.    ...        327 

Land  Advertised  for— Bids  Received — Councils'  Committee  Advise  Re-building 
—Out-door  Physicians— Position  of  Physician-in-Chief  Created— Mr.  George 
Rouey  Elected  Superintendent — Miss  Mary  Shields'  Legacy — How  Her  Bequests 
are  Administered — Bullitt  Bill  Goes  into  Effect — Changes  Made  in  Manage- 
ment—Last Official  Act  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor— Vote  of  Thanks  to 
President  of  Common  Council — First  Directors  of  the  "  Department  of  Charities 
and  Correction  "—Re-organization— Chief  Resident  Physician  Elected. 


14  Contents. 

CHAPTER  XXXI. 

ORDINANCE     TO     REMOVE    ALMSHOUSE  — MAYOR      FITLER    OPPOSES 

REMOVAL 334 

More  Ground  to  the  University — Ordinance  to  Remove  Almshouse  to  House  of 
Correction  Grounds — Brick  Pavilion  Erected — Sewer  Extended — More  Ground 
Sold — President  Resigns — Mr.  Robert  Laughlin  Appointed  President — Mr.  G. 
C.  Morris  Appointed  on  the  Board — Mr.  Morris  Resigns — Mr.  John  Roberts 
Appointed — Mayor  Fitler  Opposes  Removal  of  Almshouses — Improvements — 
Dr.  Daniel  E.  Hughes  Elected  Chief  Resident  Physician — More  Land  Sold — 
Money  Appropriated  for  Additional  Buildings  for  Insane  Department — Super- 
intendent Roney  Resigns — Charles  Lawrence  Elected — New  Board  Appointed 
— President  Freeman  Resigns — Major  William  H.  Lambert  Appointed  Presi- 
dent— Dr.  James  W.  Walk  Appointed  on  the  Board — Ground  Transferred  to  the 
Wistar  Institute — Money  Appropriated  to  Erect  a  House  for  Nurses  and  an 
Isolating  Building — Clinic  Hall  Re-modeled — Opening  Exercises. 

CHAPTER   XXXII. 

DESCRIPTION    OF    NURSES'  HOUSE   AND   ISOLATING   BUILDING- FIRE 

IN   LAUNDRY   AND   STOREHOUSE         .    .  345 

More  Land  for  the  University — Description  of  Nurses'  House — Director  Hug- 
gard  Dies — Mr.  John  Shallcross  Appointed  on  the  Board — More  Ground  for  the 
University— Description  of  Isolating  Building — Addition  to  Maternity  Wards 
— Ground  Transferred  to  the  Trustees  of  Philadelphia  Museum — Fire  in  Laun- 
dry and  Storehouse — President  Lambert's  Report — Superintendent  Lawrence's 
Report — Buildings  Re-constructed — Reports  of  Chief  Resident  Physician  and 
President  Lambert— More  Ground  for  Trustees  of  Museum. 

CHAPTER  XXXIII. 
IMPROVEMENT   IN  TREATING  PATIENTS 355 

Improvements  in  Treatment  of  Insane  Patients — Superintendent  Calls  Attention 
to  Crowded  Condition  and  Suggests  Remedy — President's  Appeal  for  Relief — 
A  New  Board  of  Directors  Appointed — Major  Lambert  Continued  as  President 
— President  Makes  Another  Appeal — More  Ground  to  Trustees  of  Museum — 
President  Makes  Final  Appeal — Director  Mann  Dies — Dr.  Joseph  S.  NefF 
Appointed  on  the  Board — Director  Gross  Resigns — President  Lambert  Resigns 
Mr.  William  D.  Gardner  Appointed  President  pro  tern. — Mr.  Albert  H.  Dingee 
and  Dr.  C.  S.  Middleton  Appointed  on  the  Board. 

CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

SUPERINTENDENT     LAWRENCE     RESIGNS  — HIS   STATEMENT  TO  THE 

BOARD 364 

Superintendent  Lawrence  Resigns — Statement  Made  to  the  Board  Giving  an 
Account  of  Improvements  Made  and  Services  Rendered — How  Inmates'  Effects 
were  Cared  for — Money  Collected  and  Paid  into  the  Treasury — Letter  from  Dr. 
Curtin — Conclusion. 

APPENDIX. 

LIST  OF  FORMER  VISITING  AND  RESIDENT  PHYSICIANS  OF  THE  PHIL- 
ADELPHIA HOSPITAL 387 

CHRONOLOGICAL  LIST  OF  MEMBERS  OF  THE  MEDICAL  BOARDS  OF  THE 

PHILADELPHIA  HOSPITAL,  FROM  1768  TO  1900 393 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Main  Entrance  to  Blockley  1S99  {Frontispiece).  vage 

Friends'  Almshouse,  1729 1*^ 

Spruce  Street  Almshouse,  i  767-1834 34 

"Blockley  Almshouse,"  taken  in  1840 52 

Vintage  Avenue,  looking  Northeast,  1899 70 

Vintage  Avenue,  looking  Southwest,  1899 88 

Hospital  Gate,  1899 I'^S 

Garden  in  Front  of  Institution,  1899 124 

Courtyard  of  Men's  Outward,  1899 142 

Garden  in  Courtyard,  1899 160 

Bird's  Bye  View  of  Courtyards,  1899 178 

Street  in  Front  of  Insane  Wards,  1899 196 

Male  Insane  Exercising  Yard,  1899 214 

Female  Insane  Exercising  Yard,  1899   .   .    .   • 234 

House  for  Nurses,  1899 252 

Isolating  Building,  1899 - ^^^ 

Interior  of  Surgical  Ward,  1899     • 288 

Interior  o:^  Drug  Store,  1899 306 

Interior  of  Storehouse,  1899 324 

Main  Laundry,  1899 344 

Stable,  1899 362 


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HISTORY 

OF  THE 

PHILADELPHIA    ALMSHOUSES 

AND 

HOSPITALS. 


CHAPTER  I. 


DESCRIPTION  OF   FIRST  ALMSHOUSE— SPRUCE  STREET 
ALMSHOUSE  OPENED. 

WHEN   William   Penn   sailed   for  America,  on   the  ship 
Welcome,  of  three  hundred  tons  burden,  knowing  that 
his  voyage  and  residence  there  would  keep  him  sepa- 
rated from  his  family  during  a  considerable  time,  he 
Jeft  a  letter  addressed  to  his  wife  and  children,  in  which  he  said  : 
"  Pity  the  distressed  and  hold  out  a  hand  of  help  to  them  ;  it  may 
be  your  case ;  and  as   you  mete  to  others   God  will  mete  to  you 
again." 

The  Founder  of  Pennsylvania  was  honorably  descended,  his 
paternal  ancestors,  for  several  generations,  having  been  persons  of 
high  respectability  and  considerable  note  in  the  world. 

His  grandfather,  Giles  Penn,  was  a  captain  in  the  English 
Navy.  His  father,  Sir  William  Penn,  at  an  early  age,  became  a 
distinguished  naval  officer,  and  passed  through  the  successive 
grades  of  promotion,  so  that  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-one  he  was 
created  Vice- Admiral. 

The  father  was  much  annoyed  by  the  persistency  with  which 
his  son  William  clung  to  the  teachings  of  Thomas  Loe,  a  preacher 
of  the  Society  of  Friends.  He  remonstrated  with  him,  beat  him, 
and  turned  him  out  of  his  home,  but  all  in  vain.  The  younger 
William  was  expelled  from  college  and  suffered  confinement  in 
prisons  on  several  occasions,  and  for  long  terms,  for  preaching 
2  17 


18  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

heresy,  as  it  was  termed ;  but  he  adhered  to  what  he  considered 
was  the  true  faith,  and  no  sect  had  a  better  advocate  than  he 
proved  to  be. 

The  "  Friends  "  who  came  with  him  to  this  country,  which 
was  to  be  "  the  haven  of  rest  for  the  oppressed  of  all  nations," 
were,  no  doubt,  men  of  sterling  qualities  ;  they  believed  in  the 
sentiment  expressed  in  the  letter  referred  to,  and  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing to  see  that  the  first  almshouse  established  in  the  Colonies  was 
that  of  the  Friends,  located  on  the  grounds  belonging  to  John 
Martin,  between  Third  and  Fourth  Streets,  on  the  south  side  of 
Walnut  Street,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

Even  in  the  selection  of  the  name  for  their  new  home, 
Philadelphia,  City  of  Brotherly  Love,  the  spirit  of  Christian 
charity  is  manifested. 

In  early  writings  it  appears  that  "  no  one  need  ever  starve  or 
be  in  want  in  this  fruitful  country,"  and  as  the  founders  were 
industrious,  prudent  people,  the  assertion  was  probably  true  at 
that  period. 

In  time,  idle  persons  came  drifting  in  among  them  and  sick- 
ness or  misfortune  overtook  some  of  those  early  settlers,  so  that 
they  required  assistance  from  the  more  fortunate.  This  was 
rendered  privately,  as  friend  to  neighbor,  until  it  became  so 
burdensome,  to  a  few,  that  it  was  deemed  essential  to  have  some 
public  way  of  relieving  the  necessities  of  the  poor,  and  to  levy  an 
equal  tax  on  all  to  provide  the  means  for  that  purpose. 

As  early  as  the  year  1700,  an  "  Act  for  the  better  provision  of 
the  Poor  "  was  passed,  but  the  Queen  repealed  it. 

In  1705  the  Assembly  passed  a  law  that  provided  that  Justices 
of  the  Peace  should  annually  elect  two  "  Overseers  of  the  Poor  " 
for  each  Township,  and  authorized  them  to  levy  a  tax  of  one  penny 
per  pound  on  real  and  personal  property  of  citizens,  and  four  shil- 
lings per  head  on  all  citizens  not  otherwise  rated,  "to  be  employed 
for  the  relief  of  poor,  indigent  and  impotent  persons,  inhabiting 
within  the  said  Township."  The  money  so  collected  appears  to 
have  been  distributed  to  the  families  in  need,  as  the  names  of  some 
who  received  it  were  entered  in  the  "  Poor  Book." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and   Hospitals.  19 

Tramps  were  not  encouraged,  and  idleness  was  not  considered 
as  good  form  in  those  days.  Councils  passed  a  resolution,  in  17 12, 
which  declared  :  "  The  poor  of  this  city,  Dayly  Increasing,  it  is  ye 
opinion  of  this  Council  that  a  workhouse  be  immediately  hired  to 
Imploy  poor  P'sons  and  sufficients  P'sons  appointed  to  keep  them 
at  work." 

The  Overseers  were  directed  to  attend  to  this  matter,  and  they 
were  subsequently  authorized  to  "  find  a  convenient  building  for  a 
workhouse." 

The  Friends  Almshouse  was  established  in  1713.  John 
Martin,  a  tailor,  who  died  in  1702,  devised  the  property  on  Walnut 
Street  to  Thomas  Chalkley,  Ralph  Jackson  and  John  Michener. 
The  will  did  not  provide  that  they  should  hold  it  for  any  trust,  or 
object;  yet,  "it  was  understood  from  conversations  with  Martin,  in 
his  life  time,  that  he  intended  that  his  estate  should  be  disposed  of 
for  the  use  of  the  poor  Friends,  according  to  the  directions  of 
the  Society." 

Small  houses  were  erected  for  the  purpose,  but  the  front 
building  was  not  built  until  1729. 

These  buildings  were  described  as  being  very  quaint  in  appear- 
ance and  character.  The  main  one  on  Walnut  Street  occupied  the 
whole  front  of  the  lot,  and  ''  the  central  portion  of  it  rose  above  a 
simply  ornamented  doorway  to  an  open-arched  entrance  which  led 
from  the  street  by  steps  to  the  garden  and  buildings  in  the  rear." 
There  were  six  small  houses  in  a  row  with  entrances  from  the 
yard. 

This  almshouse  was  strictly  sectarian,  and  none  but  members 
of  the  Society,  having  charge  of  it,  could  be  received  within  its 
walls.  It  had  but  few  inmates,  as  the  Quakers  were  generally 
thrifty  and  economical  and  did  not  have  to  be  supported  in  an 
almshouse.  A  few  old  women  were  there,  and  it  was  frequently 
called  the  "  Quaker  Nunnery."  As  it  was  not  a  place  for  the 
support  of  the  poor  of  all  denominations,  it  could  not  be  considered 
a  public  almshouse,  and  its  usefulness  was  very  much  restricted. 

An  order  w^as  issued,  in  171 7,  that  compelled  all  persons  who 
received  relief  from  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  to  wear  upon  the 


20  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

right  sleeve  of  the  outer  garment  a  Roman  P,  together  with  the 
initials  of  the  county,  city  or  place  of  which  the  pauper  was  an 
inhabitant.  The  letters  were  to  be  of  red  or  blue  cloth,  as  the 
Overseers  should  designate.  Every  one  who  refused  to  wear  such 
letters  w^as  liable  to  have  their  relief  suspended  or  withdrawn,  and 
also  to  be  whipped  and  kept  at  hard  labor  for  twenty-one  days. 

In  that  year  an  Act  was  passed  to  authorize  the  erection  of 
Workhouses  in  Philadelphia,  Bristol  and  Chester.  It  was  directed 
that  a  Workhouse  should  be  built  in  Philadelphia  within  three 
years,  but  that  was  not  complied  with.  The  out-door  system  of 
relief  was  still  maintained. 

The  dependent  class  increased  in  number  to  such  an  extent 
that  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  presented  a  memorial  to  the  Assem- 
bly, in  1729,  which  explained  the  difficulty  of  providing  for  the  great 
number  of  poor  persons  from  foreign  ports  and  neighboring  prov- 
inces, as  well  as  for  the  insolvent  debtors,  their  wives  and  children. 
The  city  recommended  the  application  for  relief,  and  the  Legisla- 
ture resolved  to  "loan  the  Mayor  and  Commonality  ^loco,  to  be 
applied  to  the  purchase  of  ground  and  erection  of  an  Almshouse 
for  the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  city." 

The  money  was  received  in  1730,  and  the  Mayor,  Alderman 
Plumstead  and  James  Steel  were  appointed  a  committee  to  select  a 
place,  prepare  plans  and  make  estimates. 

A  square  of  ground,  a  green  meadow,  bounded  by  Third  and 
Fourth,  Spruce  and  Pine  Streets,  w^as  bought  from  Aldren  Allen  for 
^200,  and  a  brick  building  was  erected  in  1731  or  1732.  The  main 
front  faced  Third  Street ;  there  was  a  piazza  all  around  the  building, 
and  the  house  somewhat  resembled  the  Friends'  Almshouse.  The 
large  gate  was  on  Spruce  Street,  and  there  was  an  entrance,  by  a 
stile,  from  Third  Street. 

A  hospital  for  the  accommodation  of  the  sick  and  insane  was 
established  in  connection  with  the  Almshouse,  and  that  was  the 
inauguration  of  a  system  which  has  been  continued  up  to  the 
present  time. 

The  Philadelphia  Hospital  is,  no  doubt,  the  oldest  hospital  in 
continuous  service  in  this  country. 


History  of  Pliiladelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  21 

The  Assembly  passed  a  statute  on  March  29,  1735,  which 
regulated  the  manner  in  which  persons  who  came  into  the  city  of 
Philadelphia,  or  any  township  or  borough,  except  those  who  came 
from  Europe,  might  obtain  a  legal  settlement.  This  was  a  very 
serious  question,  and  the  Act  was  to  prevent  the  dependent  class 
from  drifting  from  place  to  place,  and  to  provide  for  their  support 
where  they  belonged.  Housekeepers  and  others  who  received  per- 
sons not  having  legal  settlements  into  their  dwellings,  were  bound 
to  give  notice  to  the  "  Overseers  of  the  Poor  "  under  penalty.  The 
Act  stated :  "'  The  Almshouse  built  for  the  city  of  Philadelphia 
may,  if  well  regulated,  be  of  service  and  help  to  ease  the  inhabit- 
ants of  the  taxes  yearly  assessed  on  them,  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  poor." 

iVuthority  was  given  to  the  Mayor,  Recorder  and  xAldermen  to 
appoint  a  Superintendent  of  the  Almshouse.  The  preamble 
stated :  "  Complaints  have  been  made  against  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  who  have  supplied  the  poor  with  necessities  out  of  their  own 
stores  and  shops  at  exorbitant  prices,  and  also  against  Overseers 
who  have  paid  unreasonable  accounts  to  their  friends  and  depend- 
ents for  services  done  the  poor." 

It  appears  that  there  were  people  in  those  early  days,  like 
some  of  later  date,  who  would  stoop  to  anything  to  gain  profit,  for 
themselves.  Removing  the  appointment  of  the  Superintendent 
from  the  Overseers,  was  intended  as  a  check  upon  the  Board. 

The  number  of  applicants  for  admission  became  so  large  that 
in  a  few  years  the  Almshouse  was  too  small  to  receive  them  all, 
and  in  1764  the  Overseers  again  called  upon  the  Asserhbly  to 
assist  them.  In  their  petition  they  called  attention  to  the  crowded 
condition,  and  stated  "that  into  rooms  but  ten  or  eleven  feet  square 
we  have  been  obliged  to  put  four  or  six  men.  The  church  was 
turned  into  a  lodging  room  with  fifteen  beds." 

No  action  appears  to  have  been  taken  at  the  time.  The  Over- 
seers renewed  their  application  to  the  iVssembly  in  1766,  and  again 
called  attention  to  their  crowded  condition. 

The  number  of  paupers  requiring  care  and  assistance  at  that 
time  was  two  hundred  and  twenty.     In  addition  to  the  people  in 


22  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

tlie  House  there  were  one  hundred  and  fifty  out-pensioners.  The 
cost  for  the  support  of  the  poor  in  1765  had  been  three  thousand 
^and  two  hundred  dollars. 

The  attention  of  persons  of  means  had  been  attracted  to  the 
urgent  duty  of  relieving  the  necessities  of  the  poor,  and  it  was  pro- 
posed that  if  the  Assembly  would  charter  a  Corporation  with  power 
to  establish  and  maintain  an  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employ- 
ment, such  a  company  should  be  formed. 

An  Act  was  passed  on  February  8,  1766,  entitled,  "An  Act 
for  the  better  employment,  relief  and  support  of  the  poor  within 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  District  of  Southwark,  the  Townships  of 
Moyamensing  and  Passyunk  and  the  Northern  Liberties.''  It 
provided  that  every  person  who  contributed  ten  pounds  towards 
the  purposes  of  the  Almshouse  became  a  member  of  the  Corpora- 
tion with  power  to  elect  twelve  Managers,  a  Treasurer,  etc.  They 
were  incorporated  as  "  Contributors  to  the  Relief  and  Employment 
of  the  Poor  within  the  City  of  Philadelphia." 

They  were  authorized  to  borrow  on  mortgage  of  the  Alms- 
house property  on  Third  Street  ^2000,  and  to  pay  that  over  to  the 
Managers  of  the  Almshouse  Corporation  for  the  purchase  of 
ground,  the  erection  of  buildings,  etc.,  as  soon  as  they  raised  a 
stock  of  ^1,500.  They  were  to  erect  a  commodious  building,  one 
part  of  which  was  to  be  used  for  the  reception  and  maintenance  of 
persons  who  were  poor  and  helpless,  and  the  other  as  a  House  of 
Employment,  or  Workhouse,  for  the  lodging  and  employment  of 
poor  persons  who  were  able  to  work. 

The  Contributors  held  their  first  meeting  in  the  Courthouse, 
on  the  corner  of  Second  and  Market  Streets,  on  the  twelfth  day  of 
May,  1766. 

In  addition  to  the  regular  officers,  a  board  of  Managers  was 
elected.  The  gentlemen  selected  were  Joseph  Fox,  Philip  L'3^ug, 
Abel  James,  William  Masters,  Luke  Morris,  Joseph  Redman,  John 
Palmer,  Hugh  Roberts,  Jacob  Lewis,  Enoch  Story,  Samuel  Rhodes 
and  Joseph  W^harton.  They  were  all  well  knpwn,  respectable  and 
influential  citizens. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and   Hospitals. 


90 


After  a  number  of  conferences,  it  was  finally  concluded  to  buy 
the  lot  of  ground  bounded  by  Spruce,  Pine,  Tenth  and  Eleventh 
Streets,  belonging  to  the  Widow  Callender,  at  the  price  of  ^800. 
Governor  John  Penn  assisted  in  securing  the  site. 

A  subscription  of  ;^i,500  having  been  raised,  a  mortgage-on 
the  building  and  ground  for  the  sum  of  ^2,000  was  executed.  The 
Managers  adopted  as  the  motto  for  the  seal  of  the  Corporation, 
"  Charity,  Justice  and  Industry." 

In  the  meantime,  Overseers  of  the  Poor  were  elected  in  the 
city,  districts  and  townships,  and  they  took  charge  of  the  adminis- 
tration of  outdoor  relief  and  the  general  expenditure  of  public 
charities.  The  Overseers  were  Joseph  Potts,  John  Elton,  Samuel 
Davis,  Joseph  Moulder,  Joseph  Watkins,  David  Evans,  James 
Irvine,  Nicholas  Garrison,  Benjamin  Paschal,  Bryan  Wilkinson, 
Christopher  Ludovick  and  James  Whitehall.  The  tax-levy  for 
their  purposes  was  threepence  in  the  pound.  In  addition  to  the 
amount  raised  by  this  assessment,  the  Board  had  the  income  of 
ground  rents  amounting  to  ^45  16s.  8d.  per  annum  and  frequent 
donations  from  wealthy  persons. 

The  plans  for  the  new  institution  were  agreed  upon  and  the 
erection  of  the  buildings  immediately  followed.  In  Scharff  and 
Westcott's  "  History  of  Philadelphia,"  they  were  described  as 
follows:  "  The  buildings  were  opened  in  October,  1767.  The  Alms- 
house was  laid  out  in  the  form  of  an  L,  one  hundred  and  eighty 
feet  by  forty,  two  stories  in  height,  joined  by  a  turret  thirty  feet 
square  and  four  stories  high.  The  House  of  Employment  was  on 
the  west  side  of  the  lot,  running  south  from  Spruce  Street,  fronting 
Eleventh  Street,  also  in  shape  of  an  L,  so  that  the  entire  range  of 
buildings  inclosed  on  three  sides  a  quadrangular  space.  A  large 
central  building  was  erected  on  Spruce  Street,  which  stood  between 
the  L's. 

"  The  first  story  of  the  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employ- 
ment on  the  interior  was  a  cloister  of  open  arches.  The  buildings 
on  Tenth  and  Eleventh -Streets  occupied  two  stories  and  a  garret. 
The  main  central  building  when  finished  was  three  stories  in 
height,  with  a  hip  roof  surmounted  by  a  small  cupola. 


24  History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  A  habit  soon  grew  up  among  the  people  of  calling  this  estab- 
lishment the  '  Bettering  House,'  a  title  whicb  in  time  became  some- 
what an  epithet  of  contempt.  Two  hundred  and  eighty-four  per- 
sons were  admitted  into  the  Almshouse  in  October,  1767,  and  in 
three  months  the  number  had  increased  to  three  hundred  and 
sixty-eight.  The  inmates  of  the  House  of  Employment  were  soon 
put  to  work,  and  in  it  were  made  various  kinds  of  goods,  principally 
of  wool,  hemp  and  flax.  When  in  years  after  cotton  began  to  be 
grown  in  the  United  States,  the  manufacture  of  that  fibre  became 
an  important  industry  in  the  establishment." 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  the  Managers  of  the  House  of 
Employment  soon  had  their  disagreements  and  difficulties.  The 
Managers  had  been  in  the  habit  of  extending  relief  to  needy  persons 
outside  of  the  institution,  but  finding  this  imposed  a  heav}^  tax  upon 
their  resources,  had  resolved  to  cut  off  the  "  pensioners,"  as  the  out- 
side poor  were  termed.  The  Overseers  denounced  this  action  and 
claimed  that  they  were  greatly  annoyed  by  applicants  for  relief 
which  they -could  not  furnish.  Much  suffering  was  caused  by  the 
action  of  the  Managers  of  the  House  of  Employment,  and  the 
Overseers  determined  that  they  would  not  appoint  any  more  com- 
mittees to  visit  the  Home  and  confer  with  the  Managers,  as  they 
had  previously  done. 

John  Dickinson,  Esq.,  a  wealthy  and  influential  young  man, 
married  an  estimable  young  lady  in  1770,  and  he  celebrated  the 
event  by  sending  to  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  ^200,  to  be  distrib- 
uted under  their  direction  among  deserving  applicants  for  relief. 
He  endeavored  to  share  some  of  his  happiness  with  those  who  were 
not  accustomed  to  much  pleasure  and  joy.  The  Overseers  passed 
resolutions  congratulating  him  upon  his  fortunate  choice  of  a  part- 
ner, and  wishing  him  prosperity  and  happiness.  They  also  thanked 
him  for  his  generous  gift. 

Mr.  Dickinson  was  a  talented  young  lawyer  of  a  generous 
nature,  with  a  mind  of  his  own  and  with  the  courage  of  his  con- 
victions. He  dared  to  oppose  the  Declaration  of  Independence  • 
but,  after  the  Continental  Congress  decided  to  adopt  that  wonderful 
document,  there  were  few  abler  or  more  devoted  friends  to  support 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  25 

the  cause  than  John  Dickinson  of  Pennsylvania.  History  associ- 
ates his  name  with  that  of  Franklin  and  says,  "  They  had  as  much 
to  do  as  any  other  two  men  who  can  be  named  in  uniting  the  colo- 
nies and  preparing  them  for  resistance."  He  relieved  the  sorrows 
of  many  households  and  set  a  worthy  example  for  others  to  follow  ; 
he  deemed  the  course  he  pursued  to  be  wiser  than  spending  thou- 
sands on  a  wedding  tour. 

In  September,  1770,  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  were  com- 
pelled to  take  action  in  regard  to  the  Nova  Scotia  exiles,  known  as 
"  Neutrals,"  who  had  settled  in  Philadelphia,  and  who  had  become 
a  serious  burden  on  the  taxpayers.  When  the  British  captured 
Nova  Scotia,  they  deemed  it  a  matter  of  State  policy  to  transport 
the  French  residents  and  distribute  them  among  the  Colonies.  In 
1756  a  number  of  the  families  that  had  been  driven  from  their  homes 
and  ruined  financially  arrived  in  Philadelphia.  Anthony  Benezet 
took  a  great  interest  in  them ;  they  were  provided  with  shelter  in  a 
long  range  of  one-story  wooden  houses  on  the  north  side  of  Pine 
Street,  between  Fifth  and  Sixth  Streets.  They  were  indolent, 
refused  to  mingle  with  the  other  colonists  and  had  no  ambition  to 
do  anything  to  help  themselves.  They  became  burdensome ;  so 
the  authorities,  to  compel  them  to  do  something,  resolved  to  have 
their  children  bound  out  to  other  people,  giving  as  a  reason  that 
their  parents  had  lived  long  enough  at  the  public  expense.  The 
Overseers  sent  a  remonstrance  to  the  Assembly,  representing  that 
the  neutrals,  through  age,  sickness  and  infirmities,  were  incapable 
of  providing  for  themselves,  and  had  been  ordered  to  remove  from 
the  houses  provided  for  them.  They  appealed  to  the  Assembly  to 
take  some  action  for  their  relief. 

Thomas  Fisher,  one  of  the  Overseers,  in  1774  agreed  to  take 
the  Neutrals,  or  Arcadians,  under  his  special  charge  and  distribute 
among  them  the  appropriations  made  to  supply  their  wants ;  and 
in  that  and  the  succeeding  year  the  Assembly  granted  i^200  for  the 
purpose.  It  has  been  stated  that  from  1756  until  the  Revolution- 
ary War  began,  these  people  were  a  continual  burden  to  the  com- 
munity and  a  heavy  tax  upon  its  charity.  Some  authorities  say 
that  they  disappeared  in  a  body  at   the  sign  of  war,  and  settled 


26  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

near  New  Orleans.  George  W.  Cable,  in  his  story  of  Bonaven- 
ture,  speaks  of  the  Arcadians  in  that  section,  and  probabl}''  they 
were  descendants  of  that  race.  The  winter  of  1775  was  a  very 
severe  one  in  Philadelphia.  The  Overseers  were  kept  very  busy, 
and  the  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employment  were  crowded. 
The  Overseers  appointed  a  committee  of  two  to  visit  the  institu- 
tion every  week  and  to  confer  with  the  Managers. 

John  Petty  and  William  Carter  died,  and  in  their  wills  it  was 
provided  that  certain  sums  should  be  used  for  the  purchase  and 
distribution  of  bread  among  the  poor.  One  portion  of  it  was  dis- 
tributed in  February,  and  the  other  in  March,  1776.  A  bellman 
and  public  crier  were  employed  to  notify  those  in  want  of  it,  as  to 
where  and  when  it  could  be  procured.  Our  forefathers  did  not 
have  as  many  newspapers  as  we  have  at  the  present  time. 

At  that  period  the  Overseers  were  Capt.  Samuel  Smith,  Sam- 
uel Murdoch,  James  Reynolds,  Michael  Schubert,  William  Garri- 
gues,  Lewis  Karcher,  William  Wills,  Leonard  Kessler,  Joseph 
Mifflin  and  Samuel  Garrigues.  The  peculiar  manner  in  which  the 
Overseers  were  selected  prevented  even  the  best  members  from 
serving  more  than  one  year.  As  the  term  was  about  to  expire  the 
names  of  sixty  citizens  were  sent  to  Court,  and  the  judges  selected 
twelve  Overseers  from  the  list,  to  serve  for  the  ensuing  year.  As 
the  Overseers  would  not  send  their  own  names,  their  services  were 
lost  to  the  community. 

The  minutes  of  the  Board  of  Managers  for  September  2,  1776, 
says  :  "  The  number  of  troops  that  are  passing  through  the  city 
and  making  use  of  the  Court  House  renders  it  extremely  inconve- 
nient to  meet  there  ;  "  and  it  was  resolved  that  "  the  Board  should 
hold  its  sessions  at  the  sign  of  the  Golden  Fleece."  A  number  of 
poor  and  disabled  soldiers  were  admitted  into  the  House  of  Kmploy- 
ment,  and  the  Overseers  were  active  in  relieving  the  w^ants  of  the 
families  of  those  who  were  fighting  the  battles  of  their  country. 

Those  were  trying  times  for  the  poor ;  the  Overseers  found 
great  difficulty  in  collecting  money  and  were  not  able  to  do  much. 
Every  one  was  expected  to  help  the  country,  and  could  not  give 
much  to  relieve  the*  poor. 


CHAPTER  II. 

PAUPERS     TURNED     INTO     STREET      BY     THE     BRITISH  —  STUDENTS 

ALLOWED   TO   PRACTICE. 

AT  about  this  time,  Col.  Francis  Gurney  was  ordered  by  the 
Committee  of  Safety  to  quarter  a  number  of  Continental 
militia,  who  were  very  sick  with  dysentery,  in  the  Alms- 
house. The  managers  and  physicians  strongly  objected 
to  the  order,  as  it  was  calculated  to  endanger  the  health  of  the 
House.  Notwithstanding  the  objection.  Col.  Gurney  took  pos- 
session ;  the  poor  inmates  were  transferred  to  the  west  building, 
and  the  troops  were  put  into  the  southeast  wing  of  the  House  of 
Employment. 

No  meetings  were  held  between  November  25,  1776,  and  Janu- 
ary, 1777,  owing  to  "  the  alarming  situation  of  the  times,"  as  men- 
tioned in  the  minutes  of  the  Board.  On  the  latter  date,  five  mem- 
bers— Messrs.  George  Meade,  Benjamin  Gibbs,  David  Schaffer, 
Samuel  Read  and  Mordecai  Lewis — met  to  consider  what  could  be 
done  to  relieve  some  of  the  worst  cases  of  suffering. 

Mr.  Thomas  Willing  placed  one  hundred  cords  of  wood  at  the 
disposal  of  the  Overseers,  and  other  donations  were  received  from 
various  charitable  individuals. 

Soon  after  this  a  new  and  full  Board  was  appointed  by  the 
Court ;  but  the  British  army  under  Gen.  Howe  took  possession  of 
Philadelphia,  and  the  Overseers  were  unable  to  perform  their  func- 
tions. In  October  the  sick  belonging  to  Gen.  Howe's  army  filled 
the  entire  east  wing. 

The  Board  of  Managers  was  ordered  to  clear  the  House  for  the 
King's  troops  ;  they  refused  to  do  so.  The  British  officials  turned 
the  inmates,  about  two  hundred  in  number — poor,  miserable  creat- 
ures— out  in  the  streets.  To  save  them  from  perishing,  the  mana- 
gers had  them  placed,  some  in  the  Freemason's  Lodge,  some  in  the 
Friends'  Meetinghouse  and  others  in  Carpenters'  Hall,  where  they 
were  provided  for  until  the  British  left  the   city,  in  June,  1778. 

27 


28  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Only  eighty-two  of  the  two  hundred  survived  the  exposure  and 
were  taken  back  to  the  Almshouse. 

No  one  could  realize  the  terrible  trials  through  which  the  patri- 
otic colonists  passed  in  those  days  "  that  tried  men's  souls."  Want 
and  distress  accompanied  by  acts  of  cruelty  were  familiar  sights ; 
but,  believing  in  the  righteousness  of  their  cause,  they  never 
faltered. 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  did  not  resume  their  sessions  until 
July  22,  1778.  The  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  that  date  states: 
"  The  British  army  having  at  length  evacuated  this  city  after  hav- 
ing possession  of  it  about  nine  months — during  which  time  there 
has  been  no  legal  care  taken  of  the  poor — at  a  Court  of  Aldermen, 
the  following  citizens  were  appointed  Overseers  for  the  ensuing 
twelve  months :  William  Pritchard,  John  Stille,  Philip  Moxen, 
William  Woodhouse,  Robert  Aitken,  Jonathan  Meredith,  Andrew 
Guyer,  Nicholas  Weaver,  Jacob  Kimsley,  Peter  Cooper,  John  Lin- 
nington  and  Samuel  Wetherill,  Jr."  These  were  prominent,  able 
and  humane  gentlemen. 

A  conference  was  held  with  the  Magistrates  and  it  was  deter- 
mined to  borrow  the  sum  of  ^2000,  to  be  repaid  out  of  the  proceeds 
of  the  tax  levy  as  soon  as  possible. 

A  subscription  was  opened  and  the  amount  required  was  soon 
obtained. 

The  southeast  wing  of  the  House  of  Employment,  which  had 
been  used  as  an  Almshouse,  was  at  this  time  occupied  by  wounded 
soldiers  of  the  Continental  army.  The  Overseers  were  not  anxi- 
ous to  deprive  them  of  such  shelter,  but  they  thought  that  as  the 
poor  of  the  city  were  thus  excluded  from  the  building  erected  for 
their  use,  rent  should  be  paid,  so  that  it  could  be  added  to  the  relief 
fund  of  the  Board. 

The  rent  asked  for  was  eventually  paid  by  Isaac  Melchor,  the 
Barrack  Master. 

The  Assembly  passed  an  act  authorizing  the  Overseers  to 
borrow  ;^5000,  to  be  appropriated  to  the  relief  of  the  poor,  and  pre- 
paratory steps  were  taken  for  reorganizing  the  poor  department. 
But  the  Board  found  it  impossible  to  borrow  any  mone}^,  in  1779, 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  29 

in  consequence  of  the  depreciated  state  of  the  Continental  currency, 
which  produced  universal  distrust.  The  Overseers  generously 
resolved  to  advance  the  sum  of  $300  each,  and  take  the  risk  of 
being  repaid  when  better  days  should  come. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  on  the  23d  of  December, 
1779,  the  following  communication  was  read:  "  Gentlemen — I  am 
not,  and  have  not  been,  for  several  years,  an  inhabitant  of  this 
State ;  yet,  from  a  sincere  affection  for  the  people,  I  am  persuaded 
I  shall  heartily  wish  their  happiness  in  every  respect.  These 
sentiments  have  led  me  to  think  of  the  distress  to  which  many 
worthy  families  in  this  city,  not  properl}^  the  objects  of  the  laws 
of  relief,  may  be  reduced  in  the  course  of  the  winter  that  is  setting 
in  early  and  probably  will  prove  severe.  I  therefore  beg  leave  to 
put  ;^iooo  in  your  hands,  to  be  distributed  in  such  manner  as  your 
prudence  and  humanity  shall  dictate. 

"  I  flatter  myself  that  you  will  pardon  the  liberty  I  take  on 
this  occasion,  as  I  presume  the  nature  of  your  of&ce  and  a  general 
acquaintance  will  render  a  compliance  with  this  request  not  very 
troublesome,  and  I  am  convinced  if  it  should  be  so,  your  benevo- 
lence would  receive  pleasure  by  dispensing  even  the  little  assistance 
this  mite  will  afford  to  those  to  whom  it  may  be  necessar}^  If  the 
weather  should  moderate,  so  as  to  open  the  river,  you  shall  be 
freely  welcome  to  order  two  hundred  cords  of  w^ood  to  be  cut  on 
my  estate  in  Kent,  and,  perhaps,  I  can  spare  a  larger  quantity. 
The  land  is  close  to  navigable  water,  and  wood  has  been  brought 
from  the  neighborhood  to  Philadelphia  this  Fall,  allowing  one-half 
the  profit  to  the  owner,  which  shows  the  conveyance  to  be  easy. 
If  it  should  not  be  convenient  to  accept  the  offer  this  season,  you, 
gentlemen,  or  your  successors  may  have  the  wood  against  next 
season.  It  appears  to  me  that  an  undertaking  of  the  kind  may  be 
of  considerable  service  to  many  of  your  valuable  fellow-citizens, 
though  the  grant,  on  my  part,  is  very  small,  as  I  intend  to  clear 
the  ground.     I  am,  with  great  regard, 

"  Your  humble  servant, 

"John  Dickinson." 


30  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  Board  expressed  its  thanks  to  that  worthy  gentleman  for 
his  timely  and  much  appreciated  donation. 

Mr.  Dickinson  abandoned  the  practice  of  his  profession  at  the 
commencement  of  the  War,  and  devoted  his  time  and  talents  to  the 
public  service.  No  man  of  his  time  was  more  generous  to  the 
worthy  poor ;  he  was  much  beloved  in  Philadelphia.  Many  per- 
sons had  been  suddenly  reduced  to  want  by  the  progress  of  the 
struggle  for  independence,  and  the  depreciation  of  the  currency. 
It  was  to  relieve  those  people  that  the  donation  mentioned  in  the 
letter  was  intended.  They  would  have  suflfered  rather  than  to 
have  asked  for  relief  from  the  legal  authorities,  and  the  Overseers 
endeavored  to  reach  them  through  the  generosity  of  Mr.  Dickin- 
son, who  had  been  a  benefactor  on  numerous  occasions  besides 
those  mentioned  in  the  minutes  of  the  Overseers. 

The  Board  labored  under  many  difficulties  in  the  performance 
of  its  duties.  While  the  taxes  and  donations  were,  in  most  cases, 
paid  in  depreciated  currency,  specie  was  demanded  for  almost  every- 
thing needed.  Every  expedient  was  tried  for  raising  money,  but 
winter  arrived  and  the  Board  frequently  found  the  treasury  empty. 
When  there  was  any  money  it  soon  went,  as  the  number  of  urgent 
needs  called  for  its  immediate  use. 

In  1 78 1,  the  Board  consented  to  rent  a  portion  of  the  eastern 
wing  of  the  House  of  Employment  to  the  "  General  Government" 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  British  prisoners  who  were  sick  or 
wounded.  This  kept  many  of  the  poor  citizens  out  of  the  House  ; 
yet,  after  the  treaty  of  peace  was  proclaimed,  1784,  and  the  soldiers 
were  removed,  the  managers  were  unable  to  grant  all  the  applica- 
tions for  relief. 

Many  of  the  contributors  had  become  impoverished  by  the 
events  of  the  Revolution,  and  the  membership  and  the  income  of 
the  institution  had  been  so  much  reduced  that,  in  1781,  the  Legis- 
lature passed  an  act  which  provided  that  if  the  corporation  could 
not  be  kept  up,  or  should  cease  to  act,  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor 
should  be  vested  with  all  the  powers  of  the  corporation,  and  be 
themselves  a  corporation  under  the  title  of  the  "  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  81 

On  the  3d  of  March,  1784,  the  Board  of  Managers  sent  a 
"  remonstrance ''  to  the  Legislature.  The  following  extract  will 
convey  a  faint  idea  of  the  conditions  in  Philadelphia  at  that  time  : 
"  In  the  course  of  the  winter,  your  petitioners  have  had  many  and 
afflicting  instances  of  the  utmost  human  sufferings  and  accumu- 
lated distress  in  and  around  the  city.  They  represent  that  from 
the  rigors  of  a  very  severe  and  tedious  w^inter,  the  want  of  employ- 
ment, with  the  exorbitant  prices  of  fuel  and  provisions,  the  poor 
have  greatly  increased,  and  notwithstanding  heavy  taxes  and  liberal 
donations  have  been  collected  and  expended  for  their  relief,  many 
remain  in  great  distress.  That  by  the  resort  of  people,  both  by 
sea  and  land,  to  this  metropolis,  man}-  become  burdensome  to  the 
inhabitants,  through  sickness  and  misfortunes.  That  in  addition 
to  those,  the  city  and  environs  are  greatly  oppressed  by  numbers 
of  beggars  and  vagrants,  not  only  from  various  parts  of  this  State, 
but  from  many  others  of  the  United  States,  who,  being  found  in 
distress  in  the  streets,  and  daily,  of  necessity,  added  to  the  poor, 
under  our  immediate  care,  already  too  numerous,  amounting  to  117 
out-pensioners  and  230  poor  in  the  Almshouse,  about  60  of  whom 
have  no  legal  settlement  or  right  of  support  in  this  corporation. 
But  what  we  would  now  particularly  represent  to  your  honorable 
House  is  the  distressed  situation  of  several  hundred  persons,  con- 
sisting of  disbanded  soldiers,  late  of  the  Pennsylvania  Line,  their 
wives  and  children,  with  other  non-residents,  who  have  this  winter 
taken  shelter  in  the  barracks,  where  they  have  hitherto  been 
assisted,  not  only  by  the  liberal  donations  raised  in  this  city,  but 
also  frequently  out  of  th.e  funds  under  our  direction.  Notwith- 
standing which,  they  are  now,  at  this  inclement  season,  in  great 
distress  for  almost  every  necessary  of  life." 

Although  the  Board  earnestly,  pleaded  for  the  Assembly  to 
take  some  action  for  the  relief  of  the  sufferers,  many  of  w^hom  had 
fought  gallantly  for  our  independence,  no  mention  is  made  of  any 
attention  having  been  paid  to  their  petition,  and,  inasmuch  as  there 
were  subsequent  appeals  made,  it  is  to  be  inferred  that  no  measures 
were  taken  to  render  assistance. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Overseers  can  be  found  such  records  as  : 


32  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  5  shillings  given  to  a  wounded  soldier,"  "  a  half-cord  of  wood  sent 
to  the  family  of  John  Davis,  the  said  family  being  in  great  dis- 
tress," and  others  of  the  same  character.  This  may  help  the 
imagination  to  form  some  idea  of  the  misery  that  prevailed  among 
certain  classes  in  Philadelphia  at  that  period. 

In  1784,  reports  were  circulated  that  •"  shocking  abuses  pre- 
vailed in  the  Almshouse."  The  Overseers  appointed  a  committee 
to  investigate  the  charges.  It  was  ascertained  that  all  kinds  of 
unwholesome  food,  including  "  maggotty  butter,"  had  been  served 
to  the  inmates  ;  that  there  was  a  lack  of  proper  clothing,  and  that 
women  suffering  from  loathsome  diseases  were  placed  among  the 
other  females,  who,  although  paupers,  were  honest,  decent  and 
cleanly.  The  person  responsible  for  this  shocking  state  of  affairs 
appears  to  have  been  Mrs.  Cummin gs,  the  wife  of  the  Steward, 
who  acted  as  Matron  of  the  House. 

The  committee  thoroughly  reformed  the  course  of  manage- 
ment, but  the  Steward's  wife  was  not  displaced.  She  was  much 
frightened  by  the  exposure,  and  became  a  better  official,  serving 
until  she  died  at  her  post  of  duty  during  the  yellow  fever  epidemic 
in  1793. 

The  Overseers  of  the  Poor  and  the  Managers  of  the  House  of 
Employment  again  "locked  horns  "  in  December,  1784,  as  appears 
in  the  minutes  of  the  Overseers  by  the  following  report :  "  Accord- 
ing to  the  rules  of  the  preceding  meeting,  Mr.  Connelly,  Mr. 
Sharswood,  Mr.  Mcllhenny,  and  Mr.  Dorsey  waited  on  the  full 
Board  of  Managers,  and  represented  to  them  that  this  Board  con- 
sidered themselves  insulted  in  a  very  particular  manner,  by  the 
Steward  of  the  House,  in  his  telling  two  of  the  gentlemen  of  this 
Board  (who  visited  them  last  week)  that  it  was  a  pimping  disposi- 
tion to  come  regularly  and  inspect  the  internal  management  of  the 
House ;  that  the  reason  of  two  persons  being  appointed  every 
week  from  this  Board  was  not  to  interfere  with  such — their  man- 
agement— but  in  order  to  observe  whether  the  poor  persons  sent  in 
by  them  were  well  and  duly  provided  for  ;  that  they  considered  they 
had  an  indisputable  right,  both  in  such  cases,  and  as  citizens,  to 
visit  the   House  at  any  time ;  that  during  the  visits  which  were 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  33 

weekly  made  to  the  House,  they  observed  very  great  inattention  in 
the  management,  or  stewardship  of  the  House  ;  that  those  observa- 
tions were  not  founded  on  slight  or  trivial  information,  but  on  such 
as  was  at  any  time  to  be  afiirmed  to.  The  whole  of  which  repre- 
sentations was  treated  very  lightl}^  and  in  no  wise  to  satisfaction." 

The  squabble  between  the  two  Boards  continued  for  some  time, 
and  in  February,  1787,  the  Overseers  sent  a  petition  to  the  Legis- 
lature, praying  for  a  change  in  the  law  relating  to  the  relief  of  the 
poor  of  Philadelphia,  and  for  the  passage  of  an  act  to  make  a 
revised  system,  and  the  consolidation  of  the  Overseers  and  the 
Managers  of  the  House  of  Employment. 

Experience  had  shown  the  wisdom  of  complying  with  this 
request,  as  the  conflict  existing  led  to  much  confusion. 

The  Managers  of  the  House  charged  the  Overseers  with  being 
remiss  in  the  collection  of  taxes  and  paying  the  money  over  to  the 
treasury  of  the  House.  The  Overseers  retorted  that  "  if  they,  the 
Managers,  could  give  a  more  satisfactory  expenditure  of  such  mon- 
ies, it  might  be  the  means  of  their  being  more  speedily  collected." 

This  shows  the  feeling  existing  between  the  two  Boards,  but 
the  Assembly  did  not  take  any  action  upon  the  subject  at  that  time. 

Troubles  seem  to  have  started  in  other  channels  and  the  Board 
discovered  that  there  were  thrifty  financiers  in  those  days  who  w^ere 
ready  to  earn  an  ''''honest  dollar^''  in  any  way  that  presented  itself, 
no  matter  how  questionable  it  might  appear  to  be.  The  "  Potter's 
Field,"  or  "  poor  man's  burying  ground,"  was  located  on  the 
ground  now  known  as  Washington  Square.  The  following  report 
appears  in  the  minutes  of  May  17th,  1787  : 

"  The  committee  appointed  from  the  Board  of  Overseers  of  the 
Poor  to  inquire  into  a  complaint  made  to  them  of  John  Reynolds, 
Jailor,  who  is  represented  to  have  extorted  money,  unwarrantably, 
for  the  permission  of  entering  paupers  and  other  poor  persons  in 
the  Potter's  Field,  report  that  their  first  inquiry  was  to  find  under 
whose  care  this  ground  properly  was,  and  finding  that  the  Board  of 
Wardens,  as  guardians  of  the  property  belonging  to  the  city  was 
legally  invested  with  this  trust,  and,  of  course,  the  proper  body  to 
make  application  to,  your  committee  wrote  a  letter  to  them,  calling;- 

3 


34  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

their  attention  to  the  evil  complained  of,  and  desiring  an  oppor- 
tunity to  prove  before  them  the  accusations  alleged  against  the 
said  John  Reynolds.  This  the  Board  of  Wardens  granted,  and 
appointed  a  time  for  bringing  forward  the  necessary  proofs,  which 
your  committee  was  able  to  do,  and  did,  in  a  few  instances,  prove 
to  the  satisfaction  of  said  Board  that  the  said  John  Reynolds  had, 
in  some  instances,  taken  a  half-dollar  and  in  others  a  quarter  of  a 
dollar,  for  the  privilege  of  opening  the  gate  of  said  Potter's  Field, 
for  '  fence  money,'  as  he  termed  it." 

The  Wardens  promised  to  stop  the  extortion,  but  they  could 
not  compel  Reynolds  to  return  the  money  he  had  obtained  in  that 
honorable  manner. 

While  the  gains  of  that  worthy  gentleman  might  not  be  con- 
sidered abundant,  yet  the  disposition  and  ability  shown  might  have 
lifted  him  into  a  position  of  affluence,  if  the  Overseers  had  not  made 
themselves  so  "  officiousy 

Another  committee  report  shows  that  the  average  population 
of  the  House  had  increased  to  328,  and  it  often  reached  400,  dur- 
ing the  winter  months.  They  were  of  both  sexes  and  of  all  ages, 
"  from  infancy  to  dotage."  Those  who  were  able  to  work  were 
generally  employed  in  spinning,  knitting,  sewing,  picking  oakum, 
and  the  manufacture  of  linen.  About  forty  paupers  were  engaged 
in  spinning  alone.  In  consequence  of  the  institution  being 
encumbered  with  debt,  the  Managers  tried  to  reduce  the  expenses 
by  compelling  all  who  were  not  sick  to  work  at  some  productive, 
labor. 

There  were  many  disreputable  characters  in  the  city  at  this 
time,  and  they  carried  on  a  lively  trade  after  night,  exchanging 
rum  for  clothing  and  bedding  belonging  to  the  House.  This  could 
be  accomplished  without  difficulty,  as  the  grounds  surrounding  the 
institution  were  not  inclosed. 

It  was  a  very  serious  matter,  as  it  not  onl}-  resulted  in  loss, 
but  led  to  drunken  disorder  and  insubordination  as  well.  The 
Board  endeavored  to  stop  this  as  soon  as  it  was  discovered,  but 
much  anxiety  was  caused  before  some  of  those  engaged  in  the 
nefarious  business  were  detected  and  punished. 


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History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  35 

There  were  now  more  than  300  outside  pensioners  receiving 
assistance  from  the  Board. 

A  complete  change  in  the  administration  of  the  public  charity 
was  made  in  the  early  part  of  1788,  when  the  Assembly  passed  an 
act  whicli  incorporated  the  Overseers  of  the  Poor  of  the  city  and 
the  adjacent  districts  under  the  title  of  "  Guardians  of  the  Poor  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia."  The  House  of  Employment,  Alms- 
house, as  well  as  the  care  of  outside  poor,  were  given  into  charge  of 
Managers  appointed  by  this  Board,  and  the  old  Board  of  Managers, 
which  had  existed  for  many  years,  was  abolished. 

The  new  Managers  agreed  to  hold  monthly  meetings  at  the 
House  of  Employment,  and  appointed  a  sub-committee  of  two, 
called  the  "  weekly  Board  of  Managers,"  to  visit  the  House  twice 
every  week  and  supervise  and  direct  all  the  arrangements.  The 
rules  and  regulations  were  amended  and  made  clear  in  regard  to 
every  official's  duties. 

A  notable  proposition  was  made  at  a  meeting  held  in  Novem- 
ber, 1788,  to  allow  medical  students  to  practice  in  the  House.  It 
was  strongly  opposed,  and  the  discussion  was  spirited  and  pro- 
tracted. Finally,  the  Managers  consented  to  admit  the  students 
on  trial,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to  frame  suitable  regula- 
tions for  their  government. 

The  monthly  report  of  the  Managers,  presented  December 
ist,  1788,  will  give  some  idea  of  the  financial  difficulties  of  the 
administration  of  charit}^  at  that  period.  It  said :  "  At  and  since 
the  revolution,  which  placed  the  management  and  direction  of  this 
institution  under  our  care,  the  idea  of  abuses,  negligence  and  want 
of  capacity  under  the  late  management  hath  been  pretty  generally 
disseminated.  To  these  causes  the  embarrassed  and  encumbered 
condition  of  its  affairs  hath,  in  a  great  measure,  been  ascribed,  and 
from  the  active  and  zealous  part  the  Overseers  took  in  the  revolu- 
tion, the  public  eye  has  been  turned,  toward  them  with  a  fixed  ex- 
pectation of  seeing  considerable  reforms  effected.  We  think  it 
highly  necessary  therefore,  at  this  time,  to  state  for  your  serious 
consideration,  a  brief  review  of  what  progress  we  have  made, 
and   an   examination  of  what  lies    before   us.     On   our  first  com- 


36  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

niencing  the    management  of  this    institution,   it   was    found,  on 
examination  and  inquiry,  to  be  encumbered  with  a  load  of  debt,  to 
an  unexpected  and  alarming  amount.     A  regard  for  the  welfare  of 
the  institution  and  justice  to  its  creditors  required  that  some  meas- 
ures should  be  pursued  to  pay  off  or  reduce  that  debt.     The  last 
assessment  granted  to  the  late  Managers  for  ^8600,  although  suffi- 
cient for  the   support   and  employment  of  the  poor,  was   judged 
inadequate,  if  collected  in  paper  money,  for  the  purpose  of  such 
payment  or  reduction.     An  application  was  therefore  made  to  the 
Magistrates  for  the  assessment  of  that  sum  in  specie,  which  they 
were  induced  to   issue   their  warrants   for,  on  the  representation 
made  to  them  of  the  embarrassed  state  of  the  institution,  and  that 
a  considerable  part  of  this  sum  was  wanted  for  and  intended  to  be 
appropriated  to  the  discharge  of  its  debts.     On  attempting  to  col- 
lect  this    tax    great    murmurs    and  discontent  were  expressed  at 
the  poor  rate  being  as  high  in  specie,  as  it  had  been  before  in  paper 
money,  and  considerable  opposition  was  made  by  some  in  paying 
it  in  specie.     We  surmounted  the  difficulties  thrown  in  our  way 
by  this   opposition,  and,  in   a  measure,  calmed   the  discontents  of 
our  fellow  citizens   by  alleging  that  the  object  of  so  great  a  tax 
was    to   relieve    the    institution    and  its    creditors    by   a  consider- 
able diminution  of  its  debts,  and  to  effect  this  purpose  an  extraor- 
dinary sum  was  necessary.     These  circumstances  have  placed  us 
in  a  very  marked  and   conspicuous  point  of  view.     The  creditors 
of  the  institution  are  looking  to  payment  with  anxiety,  and  our 
fellow-citizens   behold  us  with  a  steady  expectation  that  we  will 
remove  the  cause  of  such  extraordinary  contributions.     And  as  we 
have  received  every  sanction  and  aid  that  the  magistrates  could 
afford  us,  it  now  solely  rests  on  us  to  perform  that  on  which  we 
stated  our  object  to  be,  and  on  the  event  is  our  reputation  at  stake." 
Those  gentlemen  recognized   their  responsibilities,  and  were 
determined  to  faithfully  perform  their  duties.     They  felt  that  their 
"  reputation  was  at  stake,"  and,  as  they  valued  the  kind  they  bore, 
its   preservation  was   deemed  of   importance,  so   they  resolved  to 
carry  out  and  fulfil  all  the  pledges  made  before  their  selection   and 
to  not  forget  what  was  due  to  their  fellow-citizens  and  tax  payers. 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Ahnslionses  and  Hospitals.  87 

Some  officials  of  later  date  have  not  been  so  particular,  as  the}^ 
looked  upon  ante-election  promises  as  being  buried  in  the  dead 
past,  and  not  worthy  of  a  thought. 

The  details  of  the  management  of  the  House  were  carefully 
scanned  by  the  members  of  the  Board,  and  while  the}^  were  ever 
ready  to  give  credit  when  it  was  due,  they  did  not  hesitate  to  censure 
or  punish  when  they  felt  it  was  deserved.  The  minutes  of  Decem- 
ber 15th,  17S8  record  that  "  The  Steward  and  Matron  of  the  House 
of  Employment  were  reprimanded  on  account  of  some  unexplained 
deficiencies  in  the  returns  of  the  spinning  department.  The  Board 
adopted  the  following  rule  :  "  That  in  future  all  deficiencies  not 
regularly  and  satisfactorily  accounted  for,  shall  be  charged  to  the 
Steward  or  Matron,  where  such  circumstance  occurs  under  his  or 
her  department,  and  the  value  of  the  same  shall  be  stopped  out  of 
his  or  her  wages.'' 


CHAPTER  III. 

YELLOW   FEVER   EPIDEMICS-DISTINGUISHED  PHYSICIANS   ON  DUTY. 

THE  physicians  on  duty  at  the  Almshouse,  at  this  period, 
were  the  most  distinguished  and  skillful  to  be  found. 
Among  them  were  Drs.  Samuel  Powell  Griffiths,  John 
Morris,  Samuel  Duf&eld,  William  Clarkson,  William 
Shippeu,  Caspar  Wistar,  Michael  Lieb,  and  Nathan  B.  Waters, 
men  who  have  been  looked  upon  as  the  early  lights  of  science, 
and  whose  names  are  still  honored  by  the  members  of  the  profes- 
sion. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  held  on  March  3d,  1790,  the  follow- 
ing memoiial  was  adopted  and  sent  to  the  municipal  authorities  : 
"  That  being  informed  of  your  having  under  consideration  the 
subject  of  renting  out  the  lot  now  in  use  for  the  interment  of 
deceased  strangers,  commonly  called  Potter's  Field,  we  deem  it  a 
duty  incumbent  upon  us  to  address  you  on  the  occasion,  as  affect- 
ing, in  some  degree,  the  interest  committed  to  our  trust,  and  there- 
fore use  the  liberty  of  laying  before  your  view  some  circumstances 
which,  perhaps,  are  not  generally  known,  and  may  be  of  use  in 
enabling  you  to  judge  whether  it  would  not  be  for  public  benefit, 
should  you  adopt  the  measure  of  leasing  out  said  lot,  to  reserve  to 
the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  the  privilege  of  having  graves  dug  for 
the  interment  of  such  paupers  as  may  die  under  their  care.  We 
have  reason  to  believe  that  on  due  inquiry  it  would  appear  that 
more  than  120  persons  are  annually  interred  whose  coffins  are 
made  and  graves  dug  by  paupers  in  this  institution,  whose  labor 
in  any  other  way,  would,  from  their  unskillfulness  and  incapacity, 
be  very  little  productive  for  ,  the  public  interest,  and  should  the 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  be  deprived  of  their  present  economical 
means  of  making  use  of  their  labor  in  the  interment  of  those  for 
whose  funeral  expenses  the  public  must  pay,  this  deprivation  will 
impose  an  additional  burthen  on  our  fellow  citizens  who  pay  poor 
taxes,  by  an  increase  of  expense  to  which  the  whole  income  of  the 
ground  proposed  to  be  leased  may  not  bear  a  due  proportion."  In 
38 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  39 

answer  to  this  document  it  was  stated  that  the  corporation  designed 
to  reserve  to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  the  right  of  interment  in 
the  Potter's  Field. 

The  steward  of  the  House  entered  complaint  against  the 
''  invalid  pensioners,"  several  of  whom  had  been  a  burden  to  the 
House  since  the  close  of  the  Revolutionary  War.  It  was  charged 
that  these  disabled  soldiers  were  in  the  habit  of  selling  their  pen- 
sions before  they  became  due,  thus  defrauding  the  institution  of 
any  compensation  for  their  maintenance.  A  bill  in  regard  to  pen- 
sions being  before  the  Legislature  at  the  time,  steps  were  taken  to 
have  a  clause  inserted  to  prevent  the  pensioners  selling  their 
claims.  This  was  accomplished,  and  afterwards  the  old  soldiers 
had  to  pay  their  way  at  the  Almshouse. 

John  Cummings  was  steward  of  the  Almshouse  at  that  time. 
He  had  held  the  position  more  than  twenty  years,  and  had  been 
active  and  influential  in  organizing  the  system  upon  which  this 
great  charity  was  administered.  At  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
in  February,  1792,  it  was  ordered  to  be  entered  on  the  minutes  as 
a  recommendation  for  Mr.  Cummings  to  the  succeeding  Board, 
that  for  more  than  twenty  years  "  his  attention  to  the  various 
duties  of  his  station  has  been  unremitted,  his  integrity  unim- 
peached,  and  his  humanity  conspicuous."  It  had  the  desired 
effect,  as  the  new  Board  not  only  retained  him,  but  increased 
his  salary  as  well.  Mr.  Cummings  lived  in  times  when  faithful 
services  were  appreciated. 

A  memorial  was  addressed  to  the  Legislature  asking  for  a 
modification  of  the  poor  laws.  It  appeared  that  by  the  loth  sec- 
tion of  an  Act  passed  in  1767,  the  Justices  of  the  Peace  were 
authorized  to  commit  "  rogues,  vagabonds  and  other  idle  and  dis 
solute  persons  to  the  House  of  Employment."  This  class  of 
inmates  became  a  great  nuisance  in  the  institution.  The  Guard- 
ians stated  that  "  children,  on  whose  minds  first  impressions  are  the 
most  lasting,  were  exposed  to  improper  examples,  while  the  more 
advanced  in  years,  to  whom  nothing  worse  than  poverty  or  disease 
could  be  imputed,  and  to  alleviate  whose  distresses  the  first  contri- 
butions to  the  House  of  Employment  were  made,  were  confounded, 


40  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

with  the  rogues,  the  vagabonds  and  the  culprits.  Thus  this  pub- 
lic charity,  intended  to  be  a  decent  and  respectable  abode  for  the 
poor  and  infirm,  was  converted  into  a  place  of  tumult,  disorder  and 
punishment."^'  At  the  same  time  the  Board  abolished  the  practice 
of  distributing  a  daily  allowance  of  rum  to  paupers  employed  by 
the  institution,  having  found  that  such  a  course  only  tended  to 
promote  disorder  and  keep  alive  a  thirst  for  intoxicating  liquor. 

In  1793  the  city  was  visited  by  that  terrible  plague — yellow 
fever.  It  made  its  appearance  in  July,  in  a  lodging  house  on 
Water  Street,  but  it  was  not  until  the  middle  of  August  that  its 
progress  attracted  attention.  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  refused 
to  receive  any  more  persons  in  the  Almshouse.  This  was  intended 
as  a  protection  to  the  inmates,  but  the  disease  broke  out  among 
them,  and  many  were  attacked.  Some  were  sent  to  the  Hospital 
at  Bush  Hill.  No  one  could  conceive  the  conditions  at  that  time. 
A  panic  seized  the  people,  and  w^e  are  informed  by  writers  that  the 
streets  were  filled  with  fleeing  families,  who,  in  their  terror,  had 
not  onl}^  left  their  homes,  but  the  stricken  of  their  household. 

On  every  hand  one  could  see  carts  with  rough  boxes  contain- 
ing the  dead  hurrying  to  the  graveyards.  Men  locked  themselves 
in  their  homes  ;  all  social  intercourse  ceased,  and  one  half  of  the 
houses  were  deserted.  The  Federal  Government  removed  to  Ger- 
mantown,  and  all  kinds  of  industry  ceased.  Coffins  were  piled 
along  the  streets,  and  the  cry,  "  bring  out  your  dead  !  "  could  be 
heard  at  intervals.  Bodies  lay  rotting  on  the  highways  for  want 
of  burial ;  whole  families  were  swept  away. 

It  was  impossible  to  procure  suitable  nurses  ;  only  the  most 
depraved  creatures  could  be  hired. 

Mayor  Clarkson,  on  September  loth,  1793,  called  for  volun- 
teers to  relieve  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor.  Of  those  remaining  in 
the  city  only  ten  responded,  and  among  them  was  Stephen  Girard, 
the  French  "  merchant  and  mariner."  He  became  the  master 
spirit  of  the  Committee  of  Safety.  Matthew  Carey,  in  his  "account 
of  the  malignant  Fever  lately  Prevalent  in  Philadelphia,"  describes 
Bush  Hill  Hospital,  as  it  was  in  the  early  part  of  the  epidemic,  as 
follows  :   "A  profligate,  abandoned  set  of  nurses  and  attendants — 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  41 

hardly  any  of  good  character  could  be  procured — rioted  on  the  pro- 
visions and  comforts  prepared  for  the  sick,  who,  unless  at  the  hours 
when  the  doctors  attended,  were  left  entirely  destitute  of  every 
assistance.  The  sick,  the  dying  and  the  dead  were  indiscriminately 
mingled  together.  The  ordure  and  other  evacuations  of  the  sick 
were  allowed  to  remain  in  the  most  offensive  state  imaginable. 
Not  the  smallest  appearance  of  order  or  regularity  existed.  It  was, 
in  fact,  a  great  human  slaughter  house,  where  numerous  victims 
were  immolated  at  the  altar  of  riot  and  intemperance.  No  wonder, 
then,  that  a  general  dread  of  the  place  prevailed,  and  that  a  removal 
to  it  was  considered  as  the  seal  of  death."  Who  would  volunteer 
to  take  charge  of  such  a  pest-house  ? 

No  one  could  consider  it  as  being  less  than  suicidal.  Stephen 
Girard,  millionaire,  with  everything  to  live  for,  immediately  came 
to  the  front  and  offered  his  services  for  that  benevolent  work.  He 
was  joined  by  Peter  Helm,  a  noble  Moravian,  and,  without  stopping 
to  attend  to  any  private  affairs,  they  went  forth  together,  divided 
the  work,  and  for  two  months  both  of  these  heroes  spent  from  six 
to  eight  hours  every  day  at  the  hospital.  When  they  saw  the  con- 
dition of  that  place  they  started  to  reform  it.  It  was  a  terrible 
task,  but  their  courage,  charity  and  labor  were  wonderful.  An  eye 
witness  of  the  scenes,  in  Speaking  of  Girard,  said  :  "  He  had  to 
encourage  and  comfort  the  sick,  to  hand  them  necessaries  and 
medicines,  to  wipe  the  sweat  off"  their  brows,  to  perform  many 
offices  of  kindness  for  them  which  nothing  could  render  tolerable 
but  the  exalted  motives  that  impelled  him  to  this  heroic  conduct." 

It  was  stated  that  at  least  17,000  people  fled  from  the  city^ 
and  at  one  time  not  more  than  23,000  remained.  It  was  estimated 
that  there  were  nearly  5,000  deaths  during  the  few  months  the 
epidemic  raged. 

When  the  disease  was  at  its  height  the  visits  of  tbe  Guardians 
to  the  Almshouse  were  not  frequent,  but  the  steward  and  the  medi- 
cal attendants  never  deserted  their  posts.  They  stuck  to  their 
duty,  attending  to  their  flock  of  poor  old  friendless  wrecks. 

In  December,  1793,  the  house  was  again  opened  to  receive 
persons  entitled  to  aid.     At  a  meeting  of  the  Guardians,  after  all 


42  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

A^estige  of  the  fever  had  disappeared  from  the  city,  the  following 
preamble  and  resolution  were  adopted :  "  The  Board,  taking  into 
consideration  the  dangerous  and  difficult  situation  in  which  the 
steward  of  this  institution  was  placed,  by  reason  of  the  prevalence 
of  the  late  yellow  fever,  together  with  the  intrepid  firmness  and 
resolution  with  which  he,  undismayed,  adhered  to  the  duties  of  his 
place,  Resolved^  imanimously,  That  the  sincerest  thanks  of  the 
Board  be  presented  to  John  Cummings,  steward  of  this  institution, 
for  his  firm,  intrepid  and  vigilant  attention  to  the  various  and 
important  duties  of  his  office,  and  that  a  committee  of  three  be 
appointed  to  report  this  resolution  to  Mr.  Cummings." 

The  services  of  the  stew^ard  were  further  recognized  b}^  an 
extra  appropriation  of  two  hundred  dollars  for  his  family.  At  the 
same  time  the  matron,  Martha  Marshall,  was  also  complimented 
upon  the  stead}^  heroism  she  had  displayed  during  the  gloomiest 
period  of  the  pestilence.  Martha  Marshall,  a  noble  woman,  took 
the  place  of  Mrs.  Cummings,  wife  of  the  steward,  who  had  died  at 
her  post. 

The  brave  and  faithful  Cummings  continued  in  the  service  of 
the  institution  for  more  than  thirty  years,  at  the  end  of  which  age 
and  infirmities  compelled  him  to  resign.  No  officer  could  have 
had  a  greater  claim  on  the  gratitude  of  the  public.  Honest,  indus- 
trious, intelligent  and  resolute,  he  was  always  at  his  post,  ready  to 
make  any  sacrifice  for  the  benefit  of  those  under  his  care.  It  is  a 
pleasure  to  write  of  such  a  man,  and  is  doubly  so  when  it  is  seen 
that  his  services  were  recognized  and  appreciated.  That  has  a 
tendency  to  make  good  officials  and  improves  the  service.  When 
Mr.  Cummings  resigned  Aaron  Musgrave  was  elected  to  succeed 
him. 

The  Board  adopted  a  resolution  increasing  the  steward's 
salary,  but  directing  him  to  pay  the  late  steward,  during  the 
remainder  of  his  life,  the  sum  of  tw^o  hundred  dollars  per  annum. 
The  Board  endeavored  to  make  the  last  days  of  a  faithful  servant 
comfortable.  It  was  subsequently  discovered  that  they  had  no 
authority  to  make  such  an  appropriation,  and  it  was  revoked. 
Peter  Browne,  Esq.,  paid  the  amount  out  of  his  owm  purse. 


'  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  43 

Mr,  Musgrave  only  acted  as  steward  two  j^ears.  Some  offi- 
cious person  made  trivial  charges  against  him.  He  demanded  an 
investigation,  and  after  it  was  shown  that  the  allegations  were 
false  he  resigned.     Jacob  Philips  was  elected  to  fill  vacancy. 

In  August,  1798,  the  yellow  fever  again  made  its  appearance. 
The  steward  was  directed  to  allow  no  persons  to  be  admitted  with- 
out a  certificate  from  the  attending  physicians.  Frequent  confer- 
ences took  place  between  the  Guardians,  the  Board  of  Health  and 
the  managers  of  the  Marine  Cit}^  Hospital  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  accommodations  for  the  poor  of  the  city  and  districts,  and 
to  aid  persons  who  desired  to  remove  outside  of  the  city  limits.  In 
September  it  was  concluded  to  solicit  a  loan  on  subscription,  the 
money  to  be  used  for  their  purposes.  During  the  month  of 
November  between  two  and  three  hundred  children,  utterly  destitute, 
were  sent  to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  their  parents  having  fallen 
v^ictims  to  the  fever. 

It  was  stated  that  during  the  prevalence  of  the  epidemic,  in 
this  year,  at  least  50,000  persons  fled  from  the  cit}^,  leaving  only 
about  3,000  remaining  in  Philadelphia. 

In  the  same  year  the  whooping  cough  prevailed  to  an  alarm- 
ing extent;  almost  every  house  was  visited  by  it.  This  was  a  j^ear 
of  trouble  and  distress. 

In  1803  the  institution  was  crowded.  The  average  population 
had  become  so  large,  being  about  five  hundred  and  fortj^,  that  it 
was  necessary  to  make  additions  to  the  buildings,  Mr,  Isaac  T, 
Hopper,  a  well  known  philanthropist,  made  a  number  of  sugges- 
tions ;  some  additions  were  made  to  the  premises,  and,  what  w^as 
■considered,  in  those  days,  suitable  accommodations  for  the  insane, 
were  arranged.  At  this  time  clinical  lectures  were  introduced  at 
the  Almshouse,  at  the  request  of  Dr,  Charles  Caldwell.  The 
■doctor  was  allowed  to  introduce  and  instruct  a  class  ot  twentj^ — 
afterwards  forty — students,  during  his  visits  to  the  medical  wards, 
on  condition  of  his  becoming  responsible  for  their  good  deportment. 
When  this  was  inaugurated  many  persons  considered  it  as  a  rather 
dangerous  innovation,  as  medical  students  were  surrounded  by  an 
atmosphere  of  mystery  and  suspicion  at  that  period. 


4-1  History  of  Philadelphia  x\lmshouses  and  Hospitals. 

In  this  year  an  Act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  which  pro- 
vided that  "  the  Guardians  of  ttie  Poor,  who  shall  be  substantial 
housekeepers,"  shall  be  elected  annually,  sixteen  by  the  corporation 
of  the  city,  six  by  Southwark  corporation,  and  eight  by  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  of  the  township  of  Northern  Liberties.''  Outside  of 
the  city,  Northern  Liberties  and  Southwark  the  poor  were  attended 
to  by  the  Overseers  of  their  respective  districts. 

In  September,  1803,  there  was  another  fever  panic  in  Phila- 
delphia. The  Guardians  adopted  precautions  to  prevent  the  dis- 
ease from  getting  among  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse.  They 
secured  the  building  known  as  the  Penns3^1vania  Arsenal  for  a 
temporary  hospital.  Another  building,  belonging  to  Dr.  Curry, 
situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Schuylkill,  near  Race  street,  was 
tendered  to  the  Board,  fitted  up  with  twenty-five  bedsteads  and 
bedding,  and  used  for  the  reception  of  the  paupers  during  the 
prevalence  of  the  fever.  The  pestilence  proved  very  destructive, 
and  the  demands  upon  the  labor  and  money  of  those  having  the 
distribution  of  charity  in  charge  was  unceasing.  Mr.  Philips,  the 
Steward  of  the  Almshouse,  proved  worthy  of  his  charge,  and 
earned  the  gratitude  of  the  public  by  his  energy  and  attention  to 
the  sufferings  of  those  around  him.  He  fell  a  victim  to  his  devo- 
tion to  duty,  and  died  at  his  post,  in  December,  1803.  He  deserved 
a  monument,  at  least,  from  the  people  he  served. 

A  serious  difhculty,  or  quarrel,  occurred  between  Doctors. 
Thomas  C.  James  and  Charles  Caldwell,  both  of  whom  were  en- 
gaged at  the  Almshouse.  It  appeared  that  Dr.  James  charged  Dr. 
Caldwell  with  altering  a  figure  on  one  receipt  and  a  date  on  another 
after  they  had  been  received  from  the  Treasurer  of  the  College  of 
Physicians. 

The  accused  demanded  an  investigation  by  a  committee  of  the 
Guardians.  The  Managers  declined  to  take  such  action,  in  a  case 
which  seemed  to  them  to  be  nothing  but  a  personal  quarrel,  and 
referred  the  parties  to  the  legal  tribunals. 

Dr.  Caldwell  sent  the  following  communication,  November 
17th,  1803,  to  the  Board: 

"  I  have  reason  to  believe  that   Dr.   Thomas  C.  James   con- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  45 

tinues  to  urge  a  decision  by  the  Managers  of  the  Almshouse  on 
the  subject  of  the  misunderstanding  between  him  and  myself.  I 
make  no  comment  on  the  spirit  of  determined  hostility  and  inex- 
orable rancor  with  which  he  has  pursued  this  business  since  its 
commencement. 

."If  the  charges  he  has  alleged  against  me  be  well  founded, 
they  amount  to  high  offences  against  the  laws  of  my  country. 
They  are  also  of  such  nature  as  to  be  cognizable  by  those  laws. 
On  my  country,  therefore,  I  throw  myself,  for  a  fair,  legal  and  im- 
partial trial.  From  the  justice  of  the  government  under  which  I 
live,  I  have  every  assurance  that  such  a  trial  will  be  readily  ob- 
tained. On  the  issue  of  that  I  am  willing  to  rest  my  reputation 
and  fate,  both  as  an  of&cer  of  the  Almshouse  and  as  a  private  citi- 
zen. And  as  Dr.  James  has  not  brought  it  to  this  issue  by  com- 
mencing a  prosecution  against  me,  I  will  certainly  do  it,  by  bringing 
an  action  against  him  for  his  slanders  and  malice.  As  I  am  deter- 
mined to  bring  the  matter  as  soon  as  possible  before  the  proper  tri- 
bunal, I  cannot  for  a  moment  suspect  that  the  Board  of  Managers 
will  come  to  any  decision  on  it,  which  might  tend  to  prejudice  the 
public  mind,  and  prevent  the  current  of  justice  from  flowing  in  its 
native  purity. 

"  It  is  impossible  for  the  Board  to  institute  such  an  investiga- 
tion as  will  put  them  in  possession  of  all  the  requisite  testimony 
on  the  subject.  Should  they  undertake  to  decide  on  partial 
testimony,  and  the  decision  prove  unfavorable  to  me,  they  will  there- 
fore oblige  me  to  meet  a  suit  under  all  the  adverse  impressions  which 
such  a  decision  would  necessarily  produce  on  the  minds  of  my  fellow- 
citizens,  from  among  whom  a  jury  must  be  chosen  at  no  very  dis- 
tant day  to  decide  on  the  matter  in  a  court  of  justice.  I  under- 
stand the  affair  has  been  laid  by  Dr.  James  before  his  Excellency 
the  Governor,  with  a  request  that  he  would  remove  me  from  the 
Board  of  Health.  The  talents,  information  and  uprightness  of 
that  gentleman  will  not  be  doubted.  But  his  love  of  justice  con- 
stitutes a  pre-eminent  trait  in  his  character.  He,  therefore,  very 
properly  declined  taking,  at  present,  any  concern  in  the  business, 
conscious   that  a  removal  from   the   Board  of  Health  would  be  a 


46  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

prejudice  of  the  question,  and  tend  to  a  violation  of  that  justice 
which  has  been  the  business  of  his  life  to  cherish  and  protect." 

The  Doctor  desired  the  Board,  to  follow  the  Governor's  ex- 
ample, and  the  Managers  did  so. 

Dr.  James  sustained  his  charges  by  producing  letters  from 
officials  connected  with  the  College  of  Physicians,  and  seemed  un- 
relenting in  his  enmity. 

At  the  ensuing  election  of  physicians  Dr.  Caldwell  was 
dropped,  but  he  was  permitted  to  bring  his  pupils  to  the  institu- 
tion. Dr.  James  was  re-elected,  and  was  the  cause  of  considerable 
comment.  The  Board  showed  a  weakness.  If  Dr.  Caldwell  was 
not  fit  to  be  retained  on  the  staff  he  certainly  should  not  have  been 
allowed  the  privilege  of  taking  his  class  to  the  House. 

Dr.  James  soon  got  into  difficulty,  and  a  number  of  distin- 
guished physicians,  including  Dr.  Philip  Syng  Physic,  were  re- 
quested by  the  Board  to  investigate.  Their  report  said :  "A 
complaint  of  a  very  serious  nature  having,  at  your  last  meeting, 
been  charged  before  you  against  one  of  the  present  attending 
physicians,  and  by  you  referred  to  our  judgment,  we  have,  without 
delay,  carefully  inquired  into  the  circumstances.  They  were  suc- 
cinctly these  :  Dr.  James,  the  physician  complained  of,  prescribed 
camphor  in  small  doses  of  ten  or  fifteen  grains  for  Savage,  a  maniac, 
leaving  a  choice  of  either  quantity  to  the  discretion  of  the  senior 
pupil,  Dr.  Scott.  The  medicine  was  made  up  in  the  form  of  a 
mixture,  but  the  portion  given  at  each  dose  amounted  to  about 
thirty  grains.  This  error  is  not  attributable  to  Dr.  James,  whose 
conduct  was  cautious  and  correct.  The  matter,  too,  was  in  itself 
harmless,  this  patient,  while  in  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  having 
been  in  the  habit  of  taking  quantities  of  much  more  considerable 
amount. 

"  It  is  our  duty  to  state  our  apprehensions  that  much  worse 
mistakes  occur,  and  these  frequently,  under  the  present  manner  of 
prescribing.  In  order  that  they  may,  in  the  future  be  obviated, 
we  beg  to  propose  that  the  senior  pupil  should  enter  into  a  book  an 
accurate  account  of  the  symptoms  with  which  each  patient  is 
affected,  and  a  regular  register  of  the  medical  treatment. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  47 

"  The  attending  physicians  may,  for  their  own  sakes,  and  the 
benefit  of  their  pupils,  preserve  similar  case  books,  and  these  will 
serve  as  a  check  upon  each  other.  The  measure  here  urged  is  not 
new  or  unprecedented  ;  it  is  practiced  in  all  the  principal  hospitals 
in  Europe ;  it  would  not  be  attended  with  much  trouble,  and  in  a 
long  time  would  form  a  collection  of  medical  facts  of  high  value. 

"  The  occurrence  which  has  induced  the  present  communica- 
tion, solemnly  presses  upon  us  as  an  additional  observation,  if 
medicines  are  not  duly  administered,  if  any  nurse  or  other  domes- 
tic declines  administering  a  medicine,  because  it  does  not  suit  their 
own  conception  of  what  is  proper,  the  patient  ma}^,  in  acute  cases^ 
be  suddenly  destroyed  and  murder  perpetrated  by  ignorance  under 
the  roof  of  charity.  TJie  well  being  of  the  patient  and  the  char- 
acter of  the  physician  demand  the  removal  of  any  person  whatever 
guilty  of  conduct  subversive  of  both." 

Mr.  John  Trout,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Managers,  was 
appointed  Steward  of  the  Almshouse  in  April,  1804.  It  appears 
that  no  suitable  person  could  be  found  to  fill  the  position,  and  the 
institution  had  been  left  without  an  efficient  superintendent  since 
the  death  of  Mr,  Philips.  Under  these  circumstances,  Mr.  Trout 
was  persuaded  to  accept  the  situation.  Previous  to  doing  so,  he 
resigned  his  office  as  a  Guardian. 

The  report  of  a  committee  made  on  the  3d  day  of  September, 
1804,  seemed  to  have  some  connection  with  the  "  additional  obser- 
vation "  contained  in  that  of  the  medical  gentlemen  who  investi- 
gated the  charges  made  against  Dr.  James,  although  some  time 
elapsed  between  the  dates  of  the  two  reports.  The  committee's 
investigation  appears  to  have  discovered  the  foundation  of  the 
thoughts  expressed  in  the  previous  report,  and  the  facts  were 
stated  to  the  Board  as  follows  :  "  The  charges  made  against  James 
Malanafy  are  :  That  he  has  drawn  liquor  for  the  patients  after  they 
have  been  discharged  from  his  ward;  that  hehas  been  frequentl}; 
intoxicated  in  such  manner  as  not  to  be  able  to  administer  the 
medicines  prescribed  for  patients  under  his  immediate  care ;  that^ 
after  he  has  drawn  liquor  for  the  patients  in  his  ward,  he  has  taken 
the  same  for  his  own  use  ;  that  he  hath,  after  the  death  of  a  patient^ 


48  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

selected  the  best  of  the  clothing  and  sent  the  remainder  to  the 
Steward  ;  that  a  patient  named  Thomas  Loudin  drew  liquor  for 
eight  or  ten  weeks,  but  did  not  get  a  half-pint  from  the  whole  that 
was  drawn  ;  that  there  were  several  charges  similar  to  this ;  that 
John  Moore,  a  barber,  who  died  three  or  four  weeks  ago,  was  visited 
by  Dr.  Petre,  who  ordered  a  certain  quantity  of  laudanum  to  be 
given  him  ;  but  instead  of  the  laudanum  as  ordered,  James  Malan- 
afy  gave  him  a  pill ;  that  in  about  ten  minutes  after  he  gave  him 
the  pill,  the  patient  began  to  feel  ver}^  uneasy  and  '  drew  breath 
like  a  horse,'  and  he  died  the  next  day ;  that  for  a  considerable  time 
before  the  Managers  ordered  the  gates  to  be  closed,  the  tea  and 
coffee  received  by  the  patients  w^as  such  that  nobody  could  tell 
which  was  tea  and  which  was  coffee," 

"  The  charges  against  Elizabeth  Donnelly  are  :  That  she  gets 
intoxicated  ;  that  she  has  declared  to  one  of  the  patients,  now  in 
the  ward,  that  she  had  sold  as  much  coffee  as  produced  her  six  dol- 
lars, which  was  a  sum  sufficient  to  purchase  her  a  new  gown,  and 
at  the  same  time  expressed  her  regret  that  the  other  nurses  had 
not  had  the  same  opportunities  as  she  enjoyed  ;  and  further,  that 
as  Malanaf}^  was  nurse,  she  could  act  as  she  pleased ;  that  she  had 
destroyed  the  medicines  she  should  have  administered  to  the 
patients." 

These  facts,  showing  how  patients  in  the  hospital  had  actually 
been  murdered  through  neglect,  or  worse,  were  known  to  but  few 
persons,  and  instead  of  this  pair  of  ungrateful,  dishonest  murderers 
being  sent  to  prison  and  punished  as  they  so  richly  deserved,  they 
were  simply  discharged  from  the  institution.  One  can  scarcely 
believe  that  such  depraved  creatures  could  exist,  and  it  is  a  sad 
reflection  upon  the  management  of  the  institution  to  find  that  such 
a  condition  of  affairs  had  been  allowed  to  continue  for  any  length 
of  time. 


CHAPTER   IV. 

TERRIBLE     CONDITION     OF    INSANE    PATIENTS— BAD    CONDITION    OF 

SURGICAL  WARDS. 

THE  Managers  saw  that  it  was  absolutely  necessary  to  enlarge 
the  accommodations  for  the  constantly  increasing  numbers 
that  applied  to  them.  The  committee  reported  that  the 
Almshouse  was  continually  crowded,  and  the  constantly 
increasing  population  of  the  cit}^  Avould  soon  develop  an  amount  of 
pauperism  for  which  no  provision  had  been  made.  It  was  expected 
that  there  would  be  one  thousand  in  the  institution  during  the 
coming  winter.  It  was  resolved  to  build  another  addition  on 
Spruce  street,  between  the  two  buildings  then  standing,  and  to 
erect  outhouses  and  make  alterations  for  the  purpose  of  securing 
accommodations  for  several  hundred  more  paupers. 

When  the  Board  concluded  that  the  additional  buildings  would 
be  required,  the  question  of  funds  was  a  serious  one.  There  was 
no  money  available,  and  the  Legislature  was  again  applied  to.  The 
petition  sent  was  as  follows  : 

"  That  although  the  beneficial  effects  of  republican  govern- 
ment have  prevented  the  claimants  of  eleemosynary  bounty  from 
being  in  any  wise  proportionate  to  the  increase  of  population,  yet 
this,  rapidly  progressing,  has  at  last  attained  such  a  height  as  to 
render  the  present  buildings  utterly  incompetent  to  the  purposes 
for  which  they  were  destined.  That  your  memorialists,  involved 
by  their  predecessors  in  a  debt  of  $20,000,  one-third  of  which  was 
unnecessarily  incurred  from  the  retention  of  maniacs  in  the  Penn- 
sylvania Hospital,  are  unable  to  erect  buildings  of  the  extent  which 
has  become  at  present  necessary. 

''  That  the  institution  comprises  a  poorhouse,  a  house  for  the 
reception  of  the  aged  and  infirm,  whose  condition  incapacitates 
them  from  earning  a  subsistence ;  an  orphan  and  foundling  hospi- 
tal;  a  ward  for  lying-in  indigent  women;  apartments  adapted  to 
the  treatment  of  the  insane  ;  workshops  for  those  who  are  capable 
of  exercising  every  species  of  industry  ;  an  extensive  hospital  for 

4  49 


50  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

poor   male    and    female    patients    requiring  medical  and  surgical 
treatment. 

"  That  though  each  of  these  departments  has,  in  most  cities 
been  separated  into  distinct  establishments,  severally  endowed  with 
donations,  benefactions,  legacies  and  permanent  public  provisions, 
yet  this  complex  institution  has  heretofore  occasioned  little  or  no 
expense  to  the  State. 

"  That  though  your  memorialists,  resting  solely  on  the  merits 
of  their  cause,  would  wish  to  evade  any  invidious  reflection,  yet  in 
justice  to  the  distressed,  they  cannot  forbear  remarking  that  the 
Pennsylvania  Hospital,  which,  rich  in  estates  and  property,  has 
received  large  and  repeated  assistance  from  the  munificence  of  for- 
mer Legislatures,  is  shut  against  the  poor,  and  exacts  a  sum  from 
all  those  admitted  more  than  equivalent  to  the  expense  of  their 
board  and  lodging,  giving  only  medical  treatment  gratis.  That 
your  memorialists  submit  another  consideration  :  the  merits  of  the 
profession  in  this  medical  school  of  Philadelphia  have  attracted 
students  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States,  and  some  from  other 
countries,  thereby  saving  the  exportation  of  very  considerable  sums 
heretofore  expended  in  Europe,  and  exalting  the  American  charac- 
ter. That  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  which  from  the  difficulty  of 
admission,  on  an  average  contains  no  more  than  from  sixty  to 
eighty  patients,  is  not  a  very  important  adjunct  of  the  medical 
school,  affording  few  examples  of  disease  and  but  limited  lessons 
in  practice  to  the  students,  while  the  Almshouse  contains,  on  an 
average,  between  six  and  seven  hundred  persons,  and  at  present 
nearly  one  thousand  within  its  apartments  ;  and,  of  course,  might 
be,  in  this  respect,  rendered  more  eminently  useful  and  instructive. 

"  Finally,  your  memorialists,  conceiving  that  one-fifth  of  the 
admitted  paupers  being  from  various  and  remote  parts  of  the  State, 
gives  them  a  claim  on  general  assistance,  but  they  rest  with  the 
more  assurance  on  the  respect  for  science,  morals  and  humanity 
entertained  by  their  enlightened  representatives,  and,  therefore, 
pray  that,  taking  the  premises  into  consideration,  the  Legislature 
may  be  pleased  to  assist  them  in  eff"ecting  the  necessary  alterations 
and  additions  to  the  Almshouse  by  a  grant  of  ^50,000." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  51 

This  memorial  caused  considerable  discussion  and  comment, 
but  tHe  amount  applied  for  was  not  appropriated. 

The  "  malignant  fever,"  wliich  had.  been  the  cause  of  so  much 
distress  on  its  previous  visits,  again  made  trouble  in  August,  1805. 
A  large  number  of  the  paupers  was  attacked,  and  to  prevent  the 
spread  of  the  contagion  in  the  institution,  the  old  sugar  house  of 
James  Ash  was  rented  for  the  accommodation  of  the  sick.  Patrick 
McFell  was  steward  at  that  time.  A  report  was  circulated  that  a 
sick  woman  had  died  in  consequence  of  the  neglect  of  the  physi- 
cians, and  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  asked  for  an  investigation. 
The  managers  of  the  Plouse  paid  no  attention  to  the  request. 

In  November  a  man  named  Thomas  Barry,  who  had  been  an 
inmate,  was  promoted  to  the  position  of  cell  keeper,  on  account  of 
good  conduct,  then  demoted  to  his  former  condition  as  a  pauper  by 
reason  of  unsatisfactory  performance  of  duty,  and  finally  dis- 
charged from  the  Hoiise  for  insubordination,  caused  considerable 
anxiety  for  the  Board,  and  much  food  for  gossip  to  the  community. 

It  was  stated  that  Barry  had  publicly  declared  that  "  he  would 
consume  the  factor}^,"  which  was  construed  to  mean  that  he  would 
set  fire  to  it.  A  communication,  signed  by  Barry,  appeared  in  the 
Freemaii's  Journal^  in  which  he  charged  gross  mismanagement 
and  abuse  in  the  manufacturing  department  of  the  Almshouse. 

The  charges  were  investigated,  and  it  was  found  that  there 
was  no  truth  in  them.  No  attempt  was  made  to '"  consume  "  the 
House,  but  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  Barry  was  ever  prosecuted 
for  the  threats  he  made. 

In  February,  1806,  a  communication,  signed  "Detector," 
appeared  in  the  Freemaii's  Journal^  alleging  that  certain  abuses 
existed  in  the  Almshouse.  The  Board  demanded  the  name  of 
the  writer,  and  it  was  William  Ross,  the  President  of  the  Board.  The 
charges  made  by  Ross  were  :  ''  That  the  matron's  brother  and  his 
wife  were  in  the  habit  of  residing  in  the  House  for  several  months 
at  a  time  at  the  public  expense  ;  that  the  matron,  had  a  number  of  the 
paupers  employed  for  her  individual  benefit,  for  about  eighteen 
months  ;  that  the  matron  was  in  the  habit  of  drawing  barrels  of 
flour  and  sugar  for  her  own  use,  and  without  the  authority  of  the 


52  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

managers,  and  finally  that  members  of  the  Board  were  in  the 
habit  of  passing  some  evenings  in  the  matron's  apartments,  whereby 
an  undue  influence  was  gained  in  her  favor." 

The  charges  were  investigated  in  a  manner.  The  matron  was 
questioned  and  denied  the  allegations,  and  she  was  considered 
innocent.     The  President  was  censured  and  compelled  to  resign. 

Whether  the  charges  were  true  or  not,  it  was  a  mean  and 
undignified  way  to  get  them  before  the  Board.  It  would  have  been 
much  more  honorable  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Ross  if  he  had  called  the 
attention  of  his  colleagues  to  what  he  knew  or  believed,  instead  of 
sending  it  out  to  the  public  through  the  newspapers.  He  must 
have  known  that  it  was  a  contemptible  way  to  act,  as  he  was  either 
ashamed  or  afraid  to  sign  his  name  to  the  papers.  Whatever  may 
have  been  the  motive  that  prompted  him,  it  reflected  no  credit  upon 
him,  either  as  an  ofiicial  or  as  a  man. 

During  the  month  of  August,  1807,  an  epidemic  of  influenza 
broke  out  in  the  House,  attacking  both  officers  and  inmates,  and 
prevailing  in  so  violent  a  form  and  so  general,  as  to  interrupt  the 
ordinary  routine  of  business. 

More  charges  were  investigated,  and  on  the  23d  of  May,  1808, 
the  committee  submitted  the  following  report : 

"The  various  subjects  submitted  for  consideration  are  of  a 
nature  sufficiently  important  to  command  the  serious  consideration 
of  the  committee.  The  instances  of  immorality  and  depravity  that 
our  inquiry  and  examination  made  manifest  are  productive  of 
infinite  regret,  and  incline  us  to  believe  that  sojiie  further  provi- 
sion is  necessar}^  for  the  well  government  of  the  House.  The 
daily  violation  of  the  ordinary  laws  of  society  and  of  the  rules  and 
regulations  established  by  this  Board,  ought  not  to  be  tolerated 
for  a  single  moment.  The  pilfering  of  clothing,  provisions,  etc., 
and  the  introduction  of  spirituous  liquors,  with  the  consequences  of 
drunkenness,  elopement  and  fornication,  and  the  perfectly  system- 
atized and  good  understanding  which  exists  between  the  persons 
concerned,  have  become  so  flagrant  and  notorious  as  loudly  to 
demand  the  immediate  interposition  of  this  Board,  and  the  utmost 
vigilance  and  activity  of  the  steward  and  the  ofiicers  of  the  House, 


> 


o 

C 
(J) 
m 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  53 

and  that  offenders  may  be  speedily  and  exemplarily  punished. 
We  are  -aware  that  to  apply  an  adequate  remedy  for  diseases 
so  complicated  is  an  undertaking  of  no  common  labor ;  it  is  a  work 
that  requires  time  and  experience,  assisted  by  all  the  resolution, 
skill  and  industr}^  of  the  Board  to  accomplish. 

"  Permit  us  to  add  that  it  is  more  surely  traced  to  a  sensi- 
bility too  early  excited,  an  ill-timed  relaxation  of  of&cial  severity, 
or  a  deficiency  of  that  scrupulous  adherence  so  indispensible  in  our 
determination,  to  which  may  be  added  the  extreme  difficulty  of 
substantiating  offenses  by  legal  evidence. 

"Suits  were  commenced  by  the  committee  against  certain 
tippling  houses  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  institution  whose 
unlawful  practices,  it  is  presumed,  contributed  to  increase  the 
irregularities  in  the  House. 

"  But  a  prevention,  not  a  punishment,  was  the  object  of  the 
Board ;  and  from  the  solicitations,  several  of  which  the  Board 
heard,  and  the  most  solemn  assurances  of  amendment,  the  com- 
mittee was  prevailed  upon  to  stay  the  proceedings  for  the  present, 
the  Attorney  General  having  entered  a  nol  pros.^  at  the  same 
time  informing  them  that  on  the  smallest  deviation  from  their 
present  engagements  they  should  be  proceeded  against  with  the 
utmost  severit}^  of  the  law." 

The  report  was  accompanied  by  resolutions  providing  for  the 
government  of  the  institution,  etc.,  and  was  adopted. 

That  report  revealed  a  terrible  condition  of  affairs.  There 
did  not  appear  to  be  any  semblance  of  management.  It  was  an 
arraignment  of  the  incompetency  of  the  steward  and  all  connected 
with  the  management  of  the  institution ;  and  no  doubt  the  best 
course  to  pursue,  under  such  circumstances,  would  be  to  dispense 
with  the  services  (?)  of  officials  who  could  allow  such  demoraliza- 
tion and  rascality  to  exist  in  any  kind  of  an  establishment,  and 
especially  in  one  of  that  character,  without  immediately  adopting 
measures  to  correct  the  abuses  and  reform  the  management  of  it. 

One  of  the  cases  that  attracted  attention  was  that  of  Mary 
Lawyer,  an- inmate  in  iSo8.  She  had  been  in  the  House  several 
months   and  was   likely  to   remain  there.       Her  father,  Christian 


54  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Lawyer,  had  been  a  man  of  means,  and  when  he  died  he  left  a  will, 
in  which  after  providing  for  the  payment  of  his  debts,  etc.,  lie  left 
"  the  annual  income  and  the  income  of  all  the  residue  and  remain- 
der of  his  property  "  to  his  beloved  wife  for  and  during  her  natural 
life,  if  she  so  long  remained  his  widow,  unmarried,  and  not  other- 
wise. 

He  provided  that  after  the  death  or  marriage  of  his  wife, 
"  whichever  shall  first  happen,"  all  of  his  estate,  real  and  personal, 
should  go  to  his  five  beloved  children — Mary,  etc., — to  be  equally 
divided  between  them,  except  that  his  daughter  Mary  and  his  son 
John  were  to  receive  twenty-seven  dollars  more  than  the  others. 

The  wife  and  John  Sheble  were  appointed  executors.  The 
"  beloved  wife  "  did  not  long  remain  unmarried,  but  she  refused  to 
relinquish  the  property.  The  children,  most  of  whom  were  under 
age,  were  left  destitute,  and  Mary,  who  was  of  age,  was  compelled 
to  go  to  the  Almshouse. 

John  Sheble  brought  the  case  to  the  attention  of  the  Guardians 
of  the  Poor,  and  suit  was  entered ;  the  unnatural  mother  fought  to 
the  end,  but  was  compelled  to  surrender,  and  Mary  Lawyer  left  the 
Almshouse  to  live  on  her  share  of  her  father's  estate. 

It  was  very  fortunate  for  those  poor  children  that  their  father 
had  prudently  inserted  the  clause  in  his  will  which  cut  the  hard- 
hearted mother  off  when  she  remarried. 

The  goods  manufactured  in  the  Almshouse  amounted  to  con- 
siderable, and  met  with  a  ready  sale.  Stephen  Girard  sent  fifty-two 
hundred  pounds  of  cotton  there  at  one  time,  for  which  he  ^vas  to 
receive  a  certain  number  of  counterpanes  and  covers  when  they 
were  made.  The  cash .  received  amounted  to  a  respectable  sum, 
which  reduced  the  cost  of  maintenance  somewhat.  The  managers 
received  the  following  notice  in  December,  1808:  "The  minutes 
of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the  Philadelphia  Premium  Society 
require  of  me  the  agreeable  duty  of  announcing  that  the  sum  of 
$25  has  been  awarded  to  the  institution  over  which  you  so  excel- 
lently preside  as  "  to  the  individual  or  company  who  first  sets  up 
a  throwing  or  thread  machine  and  lodges,  as  a  specimen,  at  the 
Philadelphia  Society's  warehouse,  at  least  sixty  pounds  weight  of 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  o-'y 

the  grey  and  colored  kinds  (tlie  Scotch  slender  thread,  such  as  is 
used  by  the  tailors,  upholsterers,  bookbinders,  etc.,  being  the 
thread  recommended  for  imitation)  and  also  that  the  premium  of 
$20,  which,  for  obtainment,  requires  the  best  piece  of  sheeting, 
thirty-three  yards  long  and  nine-eighths  wide,  made  of  linen  chain 
and  cotton  filling,  bleached  and  fit  for  sale,  has  been  awarded  to 
your  institution.  Of  your  second  exhibit  the  circtimstance  of  its 
being  part  of  thirty  thousand  yards  of  cloth  completed  within  the 
past  year  does  yoti  the  greater  honor,  as  3^ou  have  no  motive  save 
the  good  of  the  country." 

The  Philadelphia  Premitim  Society  was  an  association  estab- 
lished to  promote  domestic  manufactures  and  the  useful  arts  ;  the 
managers  of  the  Almshotise  were  justly  proud  of  the  honor  achieved 
and  greatly  encouraged  in  their  work. 

The  first  move  for  ah  institution  on  a  large  scale,  and  located 
on  a  farm,  was  made  as  far  back  as  1808.  The  committee  sug- 
gested that  with  a  farm,  a  few  miles  from  the  city,  and  containing 
from  three  to  five  hundred  acres,  the  poor,  or  a  greater  part  of 
them,  could  earn  their  subsistence,  and  thus  diminish  the  poor 
tax.  Although  it  was  considered  advisable  to  ptirchase  a  farm  at 
that  time  it  took  about  twenty  years  to  accomplish  it. 

In  the  minutes  of  July,  1810,  appears  the  report  of  a  commit- 
tee regarding  the  case  of  a  patient,  a  colored  man,  named  Robert 
Kaston,  who  jumped  from  one  of  the  windows  of  the  sick  men's 
wards. 

One  of  the  patients  lying  near  Easton's  bed  saw  him  get  up 
at  about  half-past  one  o'clock  and  go  to  the  convenience.  As  that 
was  a  usual  thing,  it  caused  no  alarm.  A  woman  was  on  a  porch 
near  to  where  he  fell,  but  she  did  not  hear  the  fall.  She  heard  his 
groans,  and  saw  him  on  the  ground.  She  gave  the  alarm,  and 
James,  the  assistant  to  the  nurse  in  the  ward,  dressed  himself  and 
went  down  to  the  man.  When  James  asked  him  how  he  came 
there,  Easton  replied  that  he  had  jumped  out  of  the  window,  because 
he  wanted  to  die.  They  carried  him  up  to  his  bed,  when  James, 
thinking  the  man  was  insane,  and  perceiving  no  injury  from  the 
fall,  put  a  chain   upon  his  feet  for  security.     The  physicians  were 


56  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

notified  of  the  accident  immediately.  James  first  informed  Dr. 
Gordon.  He  desired  him  to  notify  Dr.  Stewart,  and  he  did  so. 
The  doctor  inquired  if  the  man  was  hurt,  but  did  not  go  to  him  to  see. 
James  said  that  he  did  not  seem  to  be,  as  far  as  he  knew.  Dr.  Stewart 
told  him  to  let  it  go  until  morning.  The  unfortunate  man  was 
then  left  in  that  condition  until  four  o'clock,  when  James,  hearing 
him  groan,  and  fearing  that  he  might  want  assistance,  went  to  him 
and  found  him  evidently  dying.  No  further  notice  was  given  to 
the  doctors  and  the  man  died  in  a  few  minutes  after. 

The  report  showed  gross  negligence  on  the  part  of  the  physi- 
cians. They  should  have  examined  the  man  immediately  to  see 
whether  he  was  injured,  and  not  take  the  judgment  of  an  ignorant 
assistant  to  the  nurse. 

The  affair  caused  considerable  gossip,  and  it  was  asserted  that 
Baston  had  been  put  in  chains  and  so  badl}^  treated  that  he  had 
jumped  out  of  the  window  to  escape  the  cruelty.  It  was  also  said 
that  he  died  for  want  of  medical  attention.  There  was  probably 
some  truth  in  the  latter  assertion. 

The  only  action  taken  b}^  the  Board  was  to  order  the  Steward 
to  have  iron  bars  put  on  the  windows.  That  did  not  help  the  rep- 
utation of  the  House  in  the  estimation  of  the  community,  and  the 
Almshouse  became  an  object  of  suspicion.  The  records  show  that 
the  physicians  gave  the  Managers  a  great  deal  of  trouble.  There 
were  repeated  complaints  of  violating  the  rules,  neglecting  the  sick, 
and  interfering  with  the  discipline  of  the  House. 

Committees  of  investigation  were   appointed,    new   and   more 
stringent  rules  framed,  and  attempts   made  to  enforce  them ;  but 
the   complaints   still  poured  in  to  the   Board.     The  trouble  was 
there  was  no  competent  head  in  charge  of  the  institution. 

The  sale  of  liquor  to  the  paupers  by  the  proprietors  of  tippling 
houses  on  Spruce  street  was  another  source  of  annoyance  to  the 
Managers.  Inmates  purchased  the  rum  and  took  it  in  the  House, 
and  drunkenness  and  disorder  was  the  result.  The  friends  of  in- 
mates smuggled  it  in  to  them,  and  the  officials  did  not  seem  to 
know  what  to  do  about  it.  The  keepers  of  the  taverns  were  prose- 
cuted, the  drunken  paupers  were  punished,  but  still  it  continued. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  57 

Patrick  McFell,  who  had  been  Steward  several  years,  was  dis- 
missed for  not  enforcing  the  rules  of  the  House  ;  not  visiting  the 
various  departments,  and  showing  a  lack  of  judgment  on  several 
occasions.  It  would,  have  been  better  for  the  institution  if  the 
action  had  been  taken  much  sooner.  His  incompetenc}^  had  been 
clearly  shown  by  the  condition  of  the  House,  as  shown  by  the  com- 
mittee's report  in  Ma}^,  1808. 

There  was  a  number  of  changes  made  in  the  manufacturing 
department ;  some  labor-saving  machiner}^,  which  had.  been  intro- 
duced for  the  spinning  of  cotton  and  wool,  was  abandoned. ;  all 
hired  labor  was  dispensed  with,  and  the  Superintendent's  services 
were  discontinued.  For  a  long  time  the  factor}^  of  the  Almshouse 
had  been  the  largest  and  most  productive  of  an}^  in  the  city,  but 
the  Managers  concluded  that  too  much  attention  had  been  paid  to 
that  department,  to  the  detriment  of  more  important  branches. 
The  changes  made  destroyed  its  importance  in  the  eyes  of  the 
community. 

Considerable  speculation  was  indulged  in  at  this  time  as  to  the 
proper  course  to  be  taken  in  regard  to  the  insane  patients  in  the 
Almshouse.  They  were  placed  in  dark,  close  and  damp  cells  in  the 
eastern  wing,  and  the  medical  gentlemen  did  not  seem  to  trouble 
themselves  very  much  about  them.  They  appeared  to  think  that 
insanity  was  incurable,  and  even  the  mildest  cases  w^ere  in  cages 
like  wild  beasts,  and  exposed  to  the  gaze  and  jeers  of  heartless 
visitors,  who  laughed  at  them  and  treated  them  as  though  they 
were  monkeys  or  other  animals  on  exhibition  in  a  zoological  garden. 
The  west  end  was  finally  selected  for  the  confinement  of  these  poor 
•creatures,  but  their  condition  was  not  much  improved.  It  took  a 
number  of  years  to  learn  how  to  treat  those  unfortunates,  but  the 
knowledge  has  been  gained  and  applied  at  last. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Managers  on  September  20th,  181 1,  a 
resolution  was  adopted  which  caused  considerable  comment. 
The  Board  had  been  informed  that  certain  persons  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  preaching  in  the  sick  wards  "  on  the  first  day 
•of  the  week,''  frequently  to  the  injury  of  the  patients.  The 
Managers   regarded  this    as    "neither  a   moral   or  religious    way 


58  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  hastening  the  afflicted  into  the  grave,"  and  prohibited  its 
repetition. 

Arrangements  were  made,  however,  for  preaching  the  gospel 
on  Sundays,  in  a  part  of  the  House,  remote  from  the  hearing  of 
the  sick. 

The  surgeons  reported  that  they  were  compelled  to  perform 
severe  surgical  operations  in  the  room  crowded  with  the  sick,  and 
they  spoke  of  the  effects  of  the  spectacle  upon  the  suffering  audi- 
ence, as  being  terrible  and  cruel.  The  Board  adopted  a  resolu- 
tion to  secure  an  apartment  to  be  devoted  exclusively  to  surgical 
operations. 

It  might  well  be  said  that  the  lot  of  the  poor  paupers,  in  those 
days,  was  not  a  happy  one,  and  they  did  not  rest  on  a  bed  of  roses. 


CHAPTER  V. 

CONDITIONS  DURING  THE  WAR  OF    1812-15— REPORT  OF   DR.  RUSH    ON 

FEVER. 

THE  deplorable  condition  of  the  insane  patients  was  again 
bronght  to  the  attention  of  the  Board  by  the  report  of  the 
committee  appointed,  in  the  early  part  of  1812,  ''  to  inves- 
tigate and  report  what  measures  would  be  necessar}'  for  the 
improvement  of  the  system  of  confinement  adopted  in  taking  care 
of  these  unfortunate  creatures."  In  their  report  occurs  the  fol- 
lowing horrible  statement :  "  Your  committee  must  confess  to  the 
Board  their  conviction  that  the  comforts  of  the  afflicted  maniacs 
cannot  be  materiall}^  improved,  nor  their  disorder  successfully  con- 
tended with,  while  they  are  exposed  to  the  chilling  damps  of  the 
present  lower  cells;  the  confined  situation  of  which,  must,  in  many 
cases,  render  useless  the  best  directed  efforts  of  medical  skill.  The 
only  apertures  which  are  depended  upon  for  the  circulation  of  air 
being  near  the  ceiling  of  the  apartment,  must  be,  in  a  great  mea- 
ure,  ineffectual  for  the  purpose ;  and  when  your  committee  reflect 
upon  the  consequences  that  may  be  apprehended  from  the  damp 
and  stagnant  atmosphere  acting  on  a  sj^stem  debilitated,  perhaps 
by  disease,  under  the  effects  of  derangement  and  the  operations  of 
medical  treatment,  they  are  induced  to  feel  the  subject  a  very  seri- 
ous one.  Among  the  incurable  defects  of  the  present  cells,  both 
upper  and  lower,  are  noted  their  proximity  to  the  sick  and  surgical 
wards,  by  which  the  last  moments  of  the  sick  are  liable  to  dis- 
(^uietude ;  and  the  windows  of  one  half  open  into  a  part  of  the 
yard  the  most  frequented  by  the  paupers,  perhaps  of  an}^  in  the 
institution;  and  your  committee  have  no  doubt  of  the  ill  effects  of 
ail  opportunity  for  disturbing,  by  conversation  or  interruption,  the 
repose  of  the  wretched  tenants  of  the  cells." 

That  report  shows  a  terrible  condition  of  affairs,  and  a  sad  want 
of  intelligence  and  ability  on  the  part  of  the  officials  to  change  for 

the  better  conditions  that  never  should  have  existed. 

59 


60  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  outbreak  of  the  war  between  the  United  States  and  Great 
Britain  caused  a  large  increase  of  the  population  of  the  Alms- 
house ;  and,  as  the  demand  for  goods  stimulated,  the  operations  of 
the  factory,  an  opportunity  to  employ  the  surplus  inmates  was 
afforded,  and  the  manufacturing  department  again  became  of  service. 

A  large  cotton  spinning  machine  was  introduced,  and  the  card- 
ing machine,  invented  by  Mr  Baxter,  set  up  and  operated  for  a 
short  time,  but  it  was  a  failure. 

Francis  Higgins,  Steward  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  died 
in  February,  1813,  when  Mr.  Samuel  Mason,  Steward  of  the  Alms- 
house, was  chosen  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Mr.  Mason  was  compli- 
mented by  the  Board,  upon  his  retirement,  for  "  his  indefatigable 
attention  to  duty."  Mr.  J.  A.  Inslee  took  his  place  at  the  Alms- 
house. 

Much  comment  was  caused  by  a  report  presented  in  March. 
It  read  : 

''  The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  application  of  the 
'  Evangelical  Society,'  of  this  State,  requesting  the  grant  of  the 
flax  ward  on  Sunday  afternoons,  for  the  sole  use  of  the  preachers 
of  their  society,  respectfully  report  that  it  appears  to  have  been  the 
practice  of  this  House  for  a  long  period  of  time,  and  probably  from 
the  origin  of  this  institution,  to  admit  the  regular  preachers  of 
every  Christian  society  on  Sunday  morning  and  Sunday  afternoon  ; 
that  the  flax  ward  being  the  largest  and  most  convenient  room  for 
that  purpose,  has  been  appropriated  accordingly  ;  and  that,  in  order 
to  prevent  confusion,  the  Steward  has  been  authorized  to  receive 
the  applications  of  the  different  ministers,  and  to  give  them  the 
privilege  of  holding  forth  to  the  people,  according  to  the  priority 
of  their  applications.  Your  committee  observe  that,  under  this 
regulation,  there  appears  to  have  been  a  constant  attendance  of 
preachers,  and  that  the  instances  of  the  Sabbath  passing  away 
without  have  been  rare ;  so  that  expediency  cannot  be  urged  in 
favor  of  the  proposed  measure.  Another  consideration  will,  no 
doubt,  have  weight  with  the  Board.  The  paupers  of  this  House 
consists  of  Baptists,  Lutherans,  Presbyterians,  Catholics,  Metho- 
dists, Episcopalians  and  other  sectarians.     The  exclusive  grant  of 


History  of  Philadelphia  Ahnshoiises  and  Hospitals.  01 

one-half  of  the  Sabbath  to  the  disciples  of  one  sect  might  be 
deemed  a  measure  savoring  of  partiality;  and,  however  desirable 
it  might  be  to  secure  the  attendance  of  Presbyterian  preachers  for 
the  afternoon,  it  might  create  a  dissatisfaction  in  the  disciples  of 
different  doctrines,  which  would  counterbalance  the  good  effects 
arising:  from  it.  There  is  no  doubt  in  the  minds  of  this  committee 
that  if  it  were  generally  known  that  the  Board  was  disposed  to 
grant  applications  similar  to  the  present,  every  sect  in  this  city 
would  request  the  same  favor,  and  justly  contend  for  an  equalit}^ 
of  claim." 

Although  the  Evangelists  were  respectfully  informed  that  their 
requests  could  not  be  granted,  they  did  not  give  it  up,  and  they 
subsequently  succeeded  in  getting  control  of  the  religious  instruc- 
tion. They  framed  a  prayer  for  the  use  of  the  school  children, 
which  is  entered  on  the  minutes  of  the  Board  as  follows : 

"  PRAYER    FOR    THE    ALMSHOUSE    SCHOOL. 

"  Thou  Most  High  and  Holy  God  :  we  adore  Thee  as  the 
greatest  and  best  of  beings,  who  art  always  present  with  us,  to 
notice  our  conduct  and  mark  our  way.  As  Thou  art  an  infinitely 
pure  and  perfect  Being,  and  we  simple  creatures  who  have  deserved 
nothing  but  eternal  punishment,  we  beseech  Thee,  most  gracious 
Lord,  to  look  upon  us  in  mercy,  and,  for  the  sake  of  our  Lord  and 
Saviour  Jesus  Christ,  pardon  all  our  transgressions  and  love  us 
freely.  We  do  entreat  Thee,  O  Thou  compassionate  God,  that 
Thou  wilt  be  pleased  to  look,  in  Thy  great  kindness  and  compas- 
sion, upon  these  children  in  their  pitiable  condition.  While  we  thank 
Thee  that,  in  the  midst  of  their  helplessness  and  wretchedness, 
they  have  here  an  asylum  where  their  food  and  raiment  are  pro- 
vided for  them,  and  where  they  are  protected  from  the  storm,  we 
pray  that  their  souls  may  be  precious  in  Thy  sight.  Blessed 
Saviour,  pity  them  in  their  ignorance  and  miseries.  Do  unto  them 
as  thou  didst  to  the  little  ones  in  the  days  of  Thy  sojourning  in 
our  world.  Take  them  in  Thy  arms  of  love  and  mercy  and  bless 
them.  Oh,  suffer  them  not  to  grow  up  under  the  negative  enmity 
of  their  hearts  against  God,  but  turn  them  from  sin  to  holiness, 


62  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

from  the  way  of  ungodliness  to  the  path  of  righteousness.  To 
this  end  bless  the  means  which  are  used  to  train  them  up  in  the 
fear  of  the  Lord,  and  to  teach  them  the  way  in  which  they  should 
go.  Let  this  place,  O  Lord,  become  a  school  of  piety  and  a  blessed 
fountain  from  which  many  streams  shall  flow,  to  make  glad  the 
Church  of  Christ.  Let  these  children  know,  in  their  own  happy 
experience,  the  gracious  fulfilment  of  that  promise  of  the  Lord, 
'  They  that  seek  me  early  shall  find  me.'  Oh,  may  they  find  the 
precious  Saviour  in  the  midst  of  their  worldly  distress  and  poverty, 
that  blessed  treasure  which  is  more  valuable  than  worlds,  even  the 
salvation  of  their  souls.  Bless,  O  Lord,  this  whole  institution. 
May  all  the  sons  and  daughters  of  poverty  in  this  place,  both  old 
and  young,  be  visited  with  thy  saving  grace  and  mercy.  Let  the 
sick  and  the  dying  receive  from  Thee  most  gracious  assurances  that 
their  sins  are  pardoned  through  the  blood  of  Jesus,  and  do  Thou 
enable  them  to  seek  of  Thee  this  great  blessing.  May  they  call 
upon  Thee  whilst  Thou  art  near.  Give  them  penitent  hearts  and 
a  living  faith  in  a  Redeemer.  We  entreat  Thee,  Heavenly  Father, 
to  bless  all  the  afflicted  and  distressed  throughout  the  world.  Let 
the  saving  knowledge  of  our  Lord  and  Saviour  fill  the  earth  as  the 
waters  fill  the  sea.  Let  Thy  kingdom  come,  Thy  will  be  done  on 
earth  as  it  is  in  heaven,  and  let  all  flesh  see  Thy  salvation.  All 
these  favors  we  ask  Thee  in  the  name  of  our  dear  Redeemer,  Jesus 
Christ.     Amen." 

This  prayer  will  show  the  kind  of  teaching  the  children 
received  at  that  period.  A  newspaper,  published  many  years  ago, 
commented  on  that  prayer  in  these  words  :  "It  will  serve  as  a  sam- 
ple of  the  verbiage,  contradiction  and  threatening  horrors  inflicted 
upon  children  educated  at  the  public  expense,  even  in  the  present 
enlightened  generation.  What  a  delightful  frame  of  mind  such  a 
form  of  prayer  is  calculated  to  produce  in  the  little  ones,  who, 
utterly  unconscious  of  having  committed  any  wrong  or  sin  what- 
ever, are  compelled  to  say  they  have  well  merited  eternal  punish- 
ment. How  can  they  reconcile  such  instruction  with  Christ's 
'  Suffer  little  children  to  come  unto  me,  and  forbid  them  not,  for  of 
such  is  the  kingdom  of  heaven.'   An  evangelical  hair  splitter  might 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  63 

attempt  to  do  it ;  but  to  a  simple-minded,  light-hearted  child,  as  to 
a  man  of  common  sense  who  has  studied  the  life  of  Christ,  the 
brimstone  mixture  of  this  so-called  prayer  has  a  noxious  odor. 
The  children  of  the  Almshouse  who  are  compelled  to  '  sit '  under 
the  Evangelical  must  be  in  a  most  pitiable  condition." 

In  January,  1818,  the  managers  received  from  the  Board  of 
Health  a  communication  relative  to  a  malignant  fever  which  then 
prevailed  in  the  Almshouse,  and  caused  considerable  excitement 
in  this  community.  It  was  referred  to  Dr.  James  Rush,  who  was 
one  of  the  attending  physicians,  and  he  made  the  following  report 
on  it : 

^^  First.  That  the  prevailing  fever  at  present  in  Philadelphia 
Almshouse  appeared  there  about  the  beginning  of  November  last, 
since  which  time  the  number  of  patients  admitted  with  it  has  grad- 
ually increased. 

"  Second.  That  the  disease  is  of  malignant  type,  and  passes 
by  the  name  of  typhus  fever.  That  the  circumstances  attending 
its  introduction  to  the  House,  its  extension  there  and  all  other 
points  relative  to  a  judgment  upon  the  subject  do  not,  in  my  opin- 
ion, warrant  an  inference  that  it  is  a  contagious  disease.  But  at  the 
same  time  I  wish  to  express  my  firm  belief  that  the  extent  and 
direction  of  the  disease  and  its  mortalit}^  will  be  much  influenced 
by  the  atmosphere  around  the  patient,  and  that  uncrowded  rooms 
and  free  ventilation  are,  in  this  fever,  among  the  important  means 
for  its  relief  and  removal. 

"  Third.  The  whole  number  of  patients  who  have  to  this  date 
been  under  medical  treatment  is  eighty-six.  Of  these  sixteen  have 
died,  twenty  have  been  discharged  cured,  and  there  remains  fifty, 
fully  one-half  of  whom  are  convalescent. 

"  Fourth.  The  gradual  increase  of  the  number  of  patients 
admitted,  which  has  heretofore  taken  place,  still  at  this  date  con- 
tinues ;  nor  does  there  appear  anything  connected  with  this  disease 
that  makes  its  future  duration  determinable." 

The  physicians  differed  as  to  the  contagious  nature  of  this 
disease,  and  it  was  deemed  prudent  to  separate  the  fever  patients 
from  the  other  inmates  of  the  House.     The  old  sugar  house  was 


61  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

again  used  as  a  hospital,  and.  extra  nurses  were  employed,  to  attend 
tlie  sick.     The  fever  panic  lasted  until  April. 

The  managers  passed  resolutions  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Inslee,  the 
steward,  and  his  wife,  for  "  the  fidelity  displayed  during  the  period 
of  trial,"  and  made  each  of  them  a  handsome  present  in  money. 
A  number  of  nurses  and  others  were  rewarded  in  the  same  manner. 
Several  medical  students  distinguisked  themselves  at  the  time, 
while  others  resigned  and  left  the  institution. 

In  the  summer  of  1820  a  malignant  fever  again  prevailed  in 
tke  Almshouse,  and  the  medical  students  were  charged  with  sup- 
pressing facts  wkick  should  have  been  reported  to  the  Board.  The 
following  preamble  and  resolution  was  adopted :  "  Whereas  it 
appears  that  early  in  the  month  of  May  there  were  reported  upon 
the  returns  made  by  the  students  of  medicine  and  surgery  in  this 
institution  sundry  cases  of  malignant  fever,  and  there  have  occurred 
during  that  month  and  all  the  months  succeeding,  many  deaths  in 
the  hospital  of  this  institution,  of  persons  whose  diseases  were  of 
the  same  character  in  all  respects  to  tkose  which  had  been  previ- 
ously reported  as  malignant,  but  that,  at  a  period  contemporaneous 
witk  the  efforts  of  the  Board  of  Managers  to  draw  the  attention  of 
the  Board  of  Health  to  tkose  malignant  cases,  the  students  of  this 
House  have  foreborne  or  neglected  to  report,  as  it  was  their  duty 
to  report,  suck  cases  as  were  malignant,  altkougk  tke  cases  in  tke 
sugar  kouse  were  numerous  and  malignant,  and  bearing  tke  worst 
features  of  malignant  bilious  fever,  of  wkick  disease  several  of  tke 
nurses  of  tke  kospital  kave  died,  and  it  appearing  to  tke  managers 
tkat  tke  omission  to  report  tkese  cases  to  tke  Board  was  a  breack 
of  duty  on  tke  part  of  tke  students  and  dangerous  as  a  precedent, 
tkerefore, 

^''  Resolved^  Tkat  a  committee  of  tkree  be  appointed  to  inquire 
into  tke  motives  or  causes  of  tke  ckanges  made  in  tke  medical 
reports  and  wkat  measures  it  may  be  necessary  to  take  to  prevent 
any  suppression  of  facts  in  tke  future." 

Tke  only  reason  given  by  tke  students  for  tke  falsification  of 
tke  records  was  tkat  "  tkey  wanted  to  prevent  a  panic." 

Tke  records  do  not  skow  tkat   any  proper  puniskment  was 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and   Hospitals.  65 

inflicted,  and  it  might  be  presumed,  that  this  accounts  for  the  con- 
tinual trouble  the  managers  had  with  those  gentlemen. 

Mr.  William  Duane,  who  had  been  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
under  President  Jackson,  was  President  of  the  Board  of  Managers, 
and  Silas  Yerker,  Samuel  Emlen,  Henry  Barringtou,  Joel  B. 
Sutherland,  Thomas  D.  Grover,  John  Wallace  and  Lawrence  Shus- 
ter,  all  well  known  and  respected  citizen,  were  members. 

A  committee  submitted  an  amusing  and  instructive  report  at 
the  meeting  in  January,  1821,  in  which  it  was  stated  :  "  The  com- 
mittee have  ascertained  that  the  ivell  paupers,  when  employed  at 
work,  said  to  be  unusually  laborious,  are  accustomed  to  receive 
more  or  less  spirituous  liquor  through  the  day,  a  practice  which  it 
seems  has  been  occasionally  authorized  by  the  visiting  committee 
of  the  week.  They  believe  this  unnecessary,  and  recommend  a 
prohibition  of  it,  as  it  would  take  away  one  strong  motive  which 
keeps  within  its  walls  so  many  slothful  inebriates,  who  are  young, 
strong  and  able  to  maintain  themselves  outside  by  daily  labor. 
The  other  persons  using  liquors  in  this  House,  so  far  as  the  com- 
mittee have  ascertained,  are  the  visiting  physicians,  the  Committee 
on  Bastardy,  the  out-door  Guardians,  and  other  visitors,  and  the 
Board  of  Managers.  The  physicians  and  Committee  on  Bastardy 
only  receive  in  their  rooms  malt  liquors,  such  as  porter  and  ale. 
The  quantit}^  used  by  tliem  during  the  year  could  not  be  learned. 
The  closet  in  the  managers'  rooms  is  supplied  with  brandy,  wine 
and  other  liquors,  but  no  record  is  separately  kept  by  which  the 
whole  quantity  used  could  be  ascertained.  The  committee  must 
state  as  their  belief  that  there  is  a  very  unnecessary  and  very 
improper  use  of  liquors  in  this  room,  and  they  respectfully  ask  the 
serious  attention  of  managers  to  the  subject." 

The  managers  must  have  given  the  matter  their  "  serious 
attention,"  as  they  requested  the  doctors  to  use  as  little  liquor  as 
possible. 

In  182 1  there  was  a  reorganization  of  the  Board  having  charge 
of  the  poor.  The  old  Board  of  Managers  was  abolished,  and 
Guardians  (23)  were  elected  by  the  city  and  districts,  and  the  gen- 
eral management  was  given  to  them.     They  elected   four  of  their 

5 


66  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

number  to  have  the    special  direction    of  the   Almshouse.      The 
Guardians  held  regular  meetings  at  the  institution. 

One  of  the  important  duties  of  the  Board  was  the  binding  out 
of  children.  The  uncertainty  of  the  kind  of  persons  who  applied 
for  them,  and  the  difB.culty  of  enforcing  the  rules  and  the  observ- 
ance of  the  indentures  frequently  caused  the  Board  considerable 
anxiety.  If  mistakes  were  made  they  v.ere  rectified  as  soon  as  the 
facts  became  known. 

The  following  preambles  and  resolution  were  adopted  in  Feb- 
ruary, 1822  : 

"  Whereas,  It  is  believed  that  the  binding  out  of  children  is 
one  of  the  most  important  trusts  committed  to  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor,  inasmuch  as  the  future  improvement  of  the  condition  of  the 
poor  must  very  much  depend  upon  the  education  of  youth  ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  It  is  important  to  place  this  interesting  class  of 
our  fellow  beings  under  the  care  of  persons  who  are  in  good  moral 
standing  in  society,  and  whose  situation  in  life  will  enable  them  to 
bring  up  those  destitute  youths  to  habits  of  industry  and  economy  ; 
and, 

"  Whereas,  The  managers  of  the  Almshouse  have  recently 
bound  a  promising  colored  boy,  named  David  Jacobs,  aged  nine 
years,  without  the  consent,  and  contrary  to  the  remonstrances  of 
his  mother,  Rachel  Jacobs,  to  a  certain  Solomon  Sloby,  a  black 
man,  whose  occupation  was  that  of  a  wood  sawyer,  or  day  laborer, 
to  serve  the  said  Sloby  for  no  less  than  twelve  years,  seven 
months,  and  eighteen  days,  to  learn  the  art,  trade  and  mystery  of 
a  house  servant ;  and, 

. "  Whereas,  the  said  Sloby  has,  contrary  to  the  terms  of 
indenture,  been  driving  him  about  the  streets  as  a  chimney  sweep, 
of  which  the  mother  justly  complains  ;   therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  a  committee  be  appointed  who  shall,  in  con- 
junction with  the  solicitor  of  the  Board,  have  the  boy  brought 
up  before  the  Court  on  a  habeas  corpus  for  the  purpose  of  having 
the  indentures  cancelled,  so  that  the  child  may  be  either  given  up 
to  his  mother  or  placed  under  the  care  of  a  suitable  master." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  67 

It  was  shown  that  this  man  Sloby  had  used  a  number  of  chil- 
dren in  the  same  manner. 

This  was  only  one  of  a  number  of  cases  that  were  discovered 
by  the  Guardians,  but  they  frequentl}'  had  the  master  or  mistress 
punished  when  it  was  shown  that  the  children  had  been  abused. 

An  association  for  the  care  of  colored  orphans,  founded  by 
some  Quaker  ladies,  made  a  proposition  to  the  Guardians  to  take 
the  colored  orphans  under  eight  years  of  age  from  the  Almshouse ; 
to  "  furnish  them  with  comfortable  lodging,  suitable  clothing, 
cheap  and.  wholesome  food,  and  to  train  them  in  habits  of  industry; 
likewise  to  instruct  them  in  school  training  and  to  give  careful 
attention  to  their  personal  conduct  and  mental  improvement,  if 
fifty  cents  a  week  were  paid  to  the  association  for  each  child."  The 
orphans  were  to  be  kept  in  reach  of  the  Guardians,  and  were  not  to 
be  bound  out  without  the  consent  of  the  Board.  The  proposition 
was  accepted,  and  the  children  were  better  cared  for  than  the}^ 
would  have  been  in  the  Almshouse. 

The  building  on  south  Fifth'  Street  near  Carpenter,  which  had 
been  rented  for  some  time  for  a  childrens'  asylum  was  purchased 
by  the  Guardians  from  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Wharton  in  November, 
1822  ;  it  was  intended  to  make  it  a  permanent  home,  but  the  idea 
was  subsequently  changed. 

A  committee,  appointed  to  consider  complaints  of  citizens 
regarding  the  manner  of  burying  the  dead,  made  the  following 
startling  report :  "  The  manner  of  depositing  the  coffins  and  leav- 
ing them  slightly  covered  for  a  length  of  time  is  very  improper  and 
very  offensive,  and  it  is  not  at  all  surprising  that  the  residents  in 
the  neighborhood  have  expressed  their  disapprobation  of  the  pro- 
ceedings on  that  ground. 

"  It  is  the  custom  to  dig  a  number  of  pits,  say  about  seven 
feet  by  four,  at  the  opening,  and  nine  feet  in  depth.  These  pits 
are  wide  enough  to  admit  of  laying  two  coffins  in  the  bottom, 
which  they  cover  with  about  two  inches  of  dirt,  until  two  more 
coffins  arrive,  which,  they  place  on  top  of  those  already  there,  when 
they  fill  the  pit  up.  But  it  will  be  recollected  that  it  takes  a  con- 
siderable time  to  get  a  sufficient  number  to  fill  a  pit,  in  consequence 


68  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  the  many  visitors  to  carry  off  the  corpses  left  there  for  interment. 
It  is  from  three  to  five  weeks  before  they  can  cover  these  pits, 
which  certainly  makes  it  very  offensive  to  have  all  the  corpses  for 
that  length  of  time  nearly  exposed  to  the  open  air.  Your  commit- 
tee are  of  opinion  that  the  mode  of  burying  ought  to  be  altered, 
and  that  each  corpse  should  be  put  in  a  separate  and  distinct  grave 
of  a  good  and  suf&cient  depth,  and  that  persons  who  are  desirous 
of  having  corpses  ought  to  have  some  trouble  to  obtain  them, 
instead  of  having  them  placed  above  ground  and  inviting  persons 
to  carry  them  away  to  save  the  trouble  of  burying  them."  The 
same  committee  made  another  report  at  a  subsequent  meeting,  in 
which  was  stated  :  "  We  visited  the  ground  on  the  i8th  inst.  A 
coffin  had  arrived  which  was  said  to  contain  the  corpse  of  a  colored 
boy.  There  were  two  pits  open,  one  said  to  contain  three  bodies 
and  the  other  empty.  The  men  said  the}^  were  waiting  for  another 
corpse,  and  then  they  intended  to  close  the  one  pit  up.  The  com- 
mittee ordered  that  the  corpse  that  was  in  the  yard  should  be 
placed  in  the  empt}^  pit,  and  that  then  both  pits  should  be  filled 
up.  This  was  done,  but  not  until  an  examination  was  made  of  the 
three  coffins  that  were  in  the  pit,  and  it  was  found  that  one  of  them 
was  e7npty. 

"  Your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  persons  who  attend  at 
the  graveyard  have  the  whole  charge  of  the  same,  and  make  such 
arrangements  zvith  the  doctors  as  they  please^  and  are  not  accounta- 
ble to  any  body." 

The  steward  was  censured  for  not  carrying  out  the  rules,  but 
the  bodies  were  still  to  be  had  "through  arrangements  made  with 
the  doctors." 

The  Board  of  Guardians  authorized  the  erection  of  an  addi- 
tion to  the  west  wing,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  sick  and  dis- 
abled. The  large  increase  in  the  census  of  the  House  demanded 
more  room,  yet  the  Board  seemed  to  be  adding  on  a  little  here  and 
some  there,  to  get  along  economically,  so  that  the  institution  looked 
anything  but  handsome,  and  began  to  be  considered  an  eye  sore  to 
the  neighborhood. 

The  question  of  what  was  the   proper  thing  to  do  with  bad 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  69 

boys  and   girls  was  one  that  caused   serious  consideration  at  this 
period. 

A  committee  of  the  "  Society  for  Alleviating  the  Miseries  of 
Prisons  "  had  a  conference  with  a  committee  of  the  Guardians  of 
the  Poor,  in  1823,  to  discuss  the  evils  that  resulted  from  the  im- 
prisonment of  boys  and  girls  among  hardened  criminals.  The 
result  of  the  conference  was  the  following  suggestions  : 

''^ First — That  a  suitable  place  should  be  provided  by  the  Guar- 
dians of  the  Poor  for  the  reception  of  all  minors  who  are  taken  up 
by  the  watchmen,  others  strolling  about  the  streets,  and  some 
without  homes,  all  of  whom  are  now  committed  to  the  county 
prison,  among  the  untried  prisoners,  who  are  charged  with  murder, 
arson,  grand  larceny  and  other  crimes.  By  this  system  of  impris- 
onment the  minors  become  inured  to  vice  in  its  most  formidable 
shape.  The  place  to  be  provided  should  be  sufSciently  strong  for 
their  safe  keeping,  until  they  can  be  bound  out  as  apprentices  to 
some  persons  residing  at  some  distance  from  the  city. 

"  Second — If  any  of  the  minors  confined  as  thus  suggested 
should  become  refractory  that  measures  be  adopted  for  placing 
them  in  solitary  confinement. 

''^Third — That  the  Mayor  and  Aldermen  be  requested  to  refrain 
from  committing  such  minors  to  the  county  prison  and  send  them 
direct  to  the  Almshouse,  and  also  to  request  the  Legislature  to 
prevent  the  imprisonment  of  minors  for  misdemeanors." 

The  Guardians  prepared  a  bill  in  accordance  with  these  sug- 
gestions, and  it  was  sent  to  the  Legislature  to  secure  the  proposed 
reform.  From  the  discussions  upon  this  subject  the  establishment 
of  the  House  of  Refuge,  an  institution  that  has  accomplished 
much  good  and  reflected  credit  upon  the  city,  was  the  ultimate 
result. 

Another  very  serious  question  to  be  considered, was  the  method 
by  which  the  outdoor  relief  was  distributed.  The  amount  of  money 
expended  for  that  purpose  had  become  so  large  that,  after  much 
discussion,  a  committee  was  appointed,  in  October,  1824,  to  "  take 
the  whole  subject  into  consideration,  and  to  inquire  whether  any 
plan  could  be  devised  to  check  that  prolific  source  of  pauperism." 


70  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  committee  submitted  an  interesting  report,  in  whicli  it 
stated :  "  The  average  population  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  and 
the  districts  included  in  this  poor  corporation,  from  the  year 
1800  to  1810,  was  80,298.  The  amount  of  taxes  for  the  same 
period  was  $773,000,  being  $77,300  a  year,  and  96^  cents  per  annum 
for  each  inhabitant.  In  the  same  districts  the  average  population 
from  1810  to  1820  was  102,906.  The  amount  of  taxes  for  the 
same  period  was  $1,118,000,  being  $111,800  per  annum,  and  $i.o8}4 
per  annum  for  each  inhabitant ;  this  being  an  increase  of  poor  tax, 
over  and  above  the  increase  of  population  of  1234^  cents  per  annum. 
From  1815  to  1819,  the  average  cost  of  supporting  each  pauper  in 
the  Almshouse  was  $1.24;  from  1820  to  1824  this  average  was  re- 
duced to  77^  cents,  while  the  great  increase  of  the  expenditures 
for  out-door  relief  caused  the  poor  tax  to  be  much  higher  than  it 
ever  was  before." 

The  committee  believed  that  the  system  of  out-door  relief  was 
so  much  abused,  and  had  such  an  injurious  tendency,  that  it  ought 
to  be  abolished. 

Resolutions  were  passed  to  "  prevent  unworthy  persons  from 
subsisting  at  the  public  expense,"  but  it  took  a  number  of  years 
to  change  the  system  entirely. 

The  Guardians  had  been  ver}^  generous  in  their  expenditures 
for  relief,  if  it  cost,  as  the  report  stated,  $1.08^  per  annum  for 
each  inhabitant  of  the  district.  If  we  consider  the  population  of 
the  city  at  the  present  time,  say  1,300,000,  and  appropriated  $1.08^ 
per  annum  for  each  inhabitant,  it  would  amount  to  $1,410,500, 
which  is  about  three  times  as  much  as  was  expended  in  any  of  the 
years  of  the  last  decade. 


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CHAPTER  VI. 

SMALL   POX   HOSPITAL   AT   BUSH    HH^L— ACT  TO  REMOVE   THE  ALMS- 
HOUSE. 

THE  Guardians  adopted  the  following  preamble  and  resolu- 
tion at  their  meeting  in  Januarj^,  1826  : 
"  Whereas,  It  has  been  represented  to  this  Board  that 
Elizabeth  Helm,  widow  of  Peter  Helm,  deceased,  is  in 
necessitous  circumstances,  and  believing  that  it  would  add  to  the 
comfort  and  happiness  of  said  Elizabeth  Helm  to  be  placed  in  the 
'Asylum  for  Indigent  Widows  and  Single  Women;'  and,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  patriotic  and  disinterested  services  rendered  by 
the  said  Peter  Helm,  during  the  prevalence  of  an  epidemic  dis- 
ease in  the  year  1793,  as  set  forth  in  a  certificate  of  thanks  to 
himself  and  others,  presented  at  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of 
Philadelphia,  at  the  City  Hall,  on  the  2Sth  day  of  March,  1794, 
and  signed  b}^  Governor  McKean  ;  therefore,  be  it 

^'Resolved,  That  the  President  of  this  Board  be  directed  to 
make  application  to  the  managers  of  the  i^sylum  referred  to  above 
for  the  admission  of  Elizabeth  Helm,  as  soon  as  an  opening  raa}^ 
present  itself,  and  that  he  be  authorized  to  expend  such'  sum  of 
money  as  may  be  requisite  to  place  her  there  in  a  situation  to 
render  her  comfortable  during  the  remainder  of  her  life." 

The  resolutions  were  carried  out,  and  the  action  of  the  Board 
was  very  praiseworth}^  and  reflected  much  credit  on  the  members. 
Peter  Helm  was  the  noble  Moravian  who  volunteered  his  services, 
in  connection  with  Stephen  Girard,  to  take  charge  of  the  Bush  Hill 
hospital,  and  to  nurse  the  poor,  afflicted  j^ellow  fever  patients  dur- 
ing the  terrible  times  when  the  people  were  panic  stricken,  and  all 
who  were  able  fled  from  the  city.  Those  two  heroes  remained,  and 
they  were  justly  entitled  to  be  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

The  first  practical  movement  looking  to  a  decided  improve- 
ment in  the  location  of  the  Almshouse  was  made  on  Ala}'  24th, 
1826,  when  Mr.  Joseph  M.  Truman  offered  the  following  preamble 

with  resolutions  : 

71 


72  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  Whereas,  It  is  the  prevailing  opinion  of  many  valuable 
citizens  that  the  present  location  of  the  Almshouse  and  House  of 
Employment  has  become  a  matter  of  deep  interest,  and  it  is  be- 
lieved to  be  materially  injurious  to  private  property  within  its 
immediate  vicinity,  and  also  very  deficient  in  the  necessary  requi- 
sites for  which  it  was  originally  intended,  and  believing  that  the 
location  of  the  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employment  ought  to  be 
on  a  farm,  at  a  convenient  distance  from  the  city,  and  that  the  hos- 
pital department  ought  to  be  in  a  different  location,  within  as  short 
a  distance  as  circumstances  would  admit ;  therefore  be  it  Resolved, 
etc." 

The  resolution  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to 
devise  a  plan  for  locating  the  institution  on  a  farm,  with  power  to 
advertise  for  proposals  for  ground,  not  exceeding  one  hundred  and 
fifty  acres,  not  less  than  one  and  a  half  miles  from  Broad  and  Mar- 
ket Streets  ;  also  for  a  lot,  not  less  than  five  nor  more  than  ten 
acres,  to  be  located  where  the  Board  of  Physicians,  in  conjunction 
with  the  committee,  might  think  it  most  advisable.  The  committee 
to  be  authorized  to  employ  an  architect,  at  an  expense  not  to  exceed 
two  hundred  dollars,  to  draw  the  plans  and  make  estimates  of  the 
probable  expense.  If  the  plans,  etc.,  were  adopted,  application  was 
to  be  made  to  Council  and  the  districts  for  permission  to  proceed 
with  the  purchase  of  the  grounds  and  the  erection  of  the  buildings. 

The  Board  was  not  ready  to  take  such  action  at  that  time ;  the 
resolution  was  laid  on  the  table ;  was  called  up  and  postponed  at 
several  subsequent  meetings,  and  was  finally  allowed  to  slumber. 
But  the  seed  had  been  sown,  and  the  results  were  seen  in  a  short 
time. 

In  March  of  the  following  year  the  managers  of  the  House 
sent  a  communication  to  the  General  Board,  calling  attention  to 
the  crowded  condition  of  the  institution  and  the  great  inconveni- 
ence and  unsanitary  situation  of  the  sick  wards,  and  recommending 
the  erection  of  an  additional  building.  A  special  committee  was 
appointed  to  consider  the  subject,  and  the  report  made  favored  the 
recommendation  of  the  managers. 

The  necessity  of  greater  accommodations  was  acknowledged. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  78 

but  the  Board  feared  to  take  the  necessar}^  steps  to  secure  them  ;  it 
was  a  question  of  monej^,  with  the  problem  of  how  to  get  it  to 
solve.  A  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the  principal  cities,  to 
compare  their  sj^stems  of  relief  with  that  of  Philadelphia,  and  it 
was  discovered  that  it  cost  much  more  here  than  it  did  in  an}-  city 
in  the  country.  The  report  of  that  committee  brought  the  whole 
subject  before  the  public  and  led  to  considerable  discussion.  It  was 
well  known  that  the  Almshouse  was  entirely  too  small  for  its  pur- 
pose, yet  the  fear  of  an  enormous  increase  in  expenditures  was 
always  prevalent  and  prevented  the  taking  of  proper  measures  to 
secure  the  necessar^^  accommodations.  Mr.  Truman's  project  was 
looked  upon  as  chimerical,  as  it  was  thought  to  mean  an  immense 
increase  of  taxation. 

At  this  time  considerable  interest  was  caused  b}^  a  fugitive 
slave  case  that  had  been  brought  to  the  attention  of  the  Guardians 
of  the  Poor. 

The  committee  appointed  to  investigate  the  subject  made 
report  stating  the  facts,  which  show  that  "The  slave  Nat  or  Na- 
thaniel, who  is  now  in  the  Arch  street  prison,  ran  away  from  his 
master  and  came  to  this  cit}'  about  two  j^ears  since.  Shortly  after 
his  arrival  he  became  acquainted  wath  a  young  colored  girl  and 
entered  into  an  engagement  to  marr}^  her ;  but  from  some  cause  or 
other  they  never  were  united  in  marriage,  although  they  had  a 
child  in  April  last.  In  the  month  of  August  Nat  was  taken  up  as 
a  runaway  slave  and  carried  before  Judge  Peters,  who,  after  a  hear- 
ing, granted  an  order  of  removal. 

"  On  the  same  da}^  Nat  was  committed  by  the  agent  of  bis 
master  to  the  Arch  street  prison  for  safe  keeping.  Shortly  after 
his  incarceration,  an  application  was  made  by  the  mother  of  the 
•child  to  Alderman  Badger,  to  arrest  him  for  the  purpose  of  com- 
pelling him  to  support  the  child,  and  under  this  writ  he  is  now 
detained  by  the  sheriff.  In  addition  to  this,  it  will  be  remembered 
that  the  mother,  since  the  apprehension  and  confinement  of  the 
Tunawa}^,  has  made  application  to  this  Board,  through  one  of  its 
members,  for  the  support  of  her  child,  and  that  a  letter  had  been 
received  by  the  said  member  from  the  United  States  District  Attor- 


74  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

ney,  threatening  him  with  the  penalties  of  the  law  for  hindering 
the  master  from  getting  possession  of  his  slave.  Your  committee 
are  of  opinion  that  the  Board  ought  not  to  take  any  part  or  inter- 
est in  the  controversy.  In  this  instance,  the  fact  that  the  child 
was  not  sworn  to  until  it  was  at  least  four  months  old,  and  not 
until  the  father  was  arrested  as  a  fugitive  slave,  has  satisfied  your 
committee  that  the  real  object  of  the  application  to  this  Board  is  to 
induce  an  interference  between  the  master  and  his  slave,  and  not 
for  the  support  of  the  child." 

The  Board  refused  to  take  any  action  in  the  matter,  and  left 
Nathaniel  to  the  mercy  of  the  court  and  his  master.  It  seemed  to 
be  a  very  complicated  affair,  and  the  action  of  the  Guardians  was 
watched  with  a  good  deal  of  interest. 

In  the  fall  of  1827  the  city  hospital,  generally  known  as  the 
''  Small  Pox  Hospital,"  was  completed,  and  a  number  of  patients 
was  sent  to  it  from  the  Almshouse  during  the  winter.  It  was 
located  on  Bush  hill,  upon  grounds  which  are  now  within  the 
limits  of  the  Fifteenth  Ward.  This  hospital  was  considered  as  one 
of  the  best  adapted  for  the  care  of  contagious  diseases  in  the  coun- 
try. It  was  torn  down  shortly  after  the  consolidation  of  the  city 
and  districts  in  1854. 

The  question  of  the  removal  of  the  Almshouse  was  again 
under  discussion  in  1828.  All  kinds  of  arguments  were  used  on 
both  sides.  The  main  opposition  was  simply  on  the  grounds  of 
expense,  but  there  was  a  number  of  influential  men  who  believed 
that  what  is  worth  doing  should  be  done  right.  They  were  opposed 
to  the  piecemeal  methods  of  patching  up  continually  to  make 
things  stretch  out  for  the  time  being.  If  a  change  was  necessary 
— and  that  was  acknowledged — they  favored  the  erection  of  build- 
ings that  would  be  a  credit  to  the  city  and  would  furnish  sufficient 
accommodations  for  the  poor  for  many  years.  They  approved  of 
Mr.  Truman's  idea  of  buying  a  farm,  and  it  has  been  stated  that 
some  of  the  Guardians  determined,  while  the  discussion  was  going 
on,  to  buy  the  ground  at  their  own  expense  and  risk,  trusting  to 
the  intelligence  and  liberality  of  the  city  to  re-imburse  them. 

They    at   length    concluded    to    apply  to  the    Legislature    to 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  7o 

obtain  the  necessary  authority  for  the  selling  of  the  old  buildings, 
the  purchase  of  ground  and  the  erection  of  a  new  Almshouse  and 
House  of  Emplo^-ment.  In  compliance  with  their  request  an  Act 
was  passed  March  5,  1828,  and  as  that  was  the  law  under  which 
the  present  Almshouse  was  erected,  some  of  the  sections  are  quoted 
entire,  so  as  to  give  the  principal  features. 

The  first  section  of  the  Act  provided:  '"That  the  Select  and 
Common  Council  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  the  Commissioners 
of  the  incorporated  district  of  the  Northern  Liberties,  the  Commis- 
sioners of  the  district  of  Southwark,  the  Commissioners  of  Spring 
Garden,  choosing  for  the  township  of  Penn,  and  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Kensington  district,  choosing  for  the  said  district,  and  the 
unincorporated  part  of  the  Northern  Liberties,  shall  meet  on  the 
third  Alonday  of  May  next,  each  body  in  its  own  usual  place  of 
meeting  at  3  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  or  as  soon  thereafter  as  ma}^ 
be,  and  shall  elect  and  choose  as  follows,  that  is  to  sa}^ :  The  said 
Select  and  Common  Councils,  b}^  joint  vote,  shall  elect  six  respect- 
able citizens,  inhabitants  of  the  cit}' ;  the  Commissioners  of  the 
incorporated  district  of  the  Northern  Liberties  shall  elect  two 
respectable  citizens,  inhabitants  of  said  district ;  the  Commissioners 
of  the  district  of  Southwark  shall  elect  two  respectable  citizens, 
inhabitants  of  said  district  ;  the  Commissioners  of  Spring  Garden 
shall  elect  one  respectable  citizen,  an  inhabitant  of  Penn  township  ; 
and  the  Commissioners  of  the  Kensington  district  shall  elect  one 
respectable  citizen,  an  inhabitant  of  said  district,  or  of  the  unincor- 
porated part  of  the  Northern  Liberties,  to  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  of  the  said  city,  districts  and  townships." 

The  iVct  provided  for  the  organization  of  the  Board,  etc.,  and 
it  was  incorporated  bj^  the  title  of  the  "  Guardians  for  the  Relief  and 
Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  the  District 
of  Southwark  and  the  Townships  of  the  Northern  Liberties  and 
Penn." 

Twelve  persons  were  to  be  elected,  to  be  called  the  "  Directors 
of  the  Poor  Tax."  It  was  their  duty  to  meet  at  the  Almshouse  or 
such  other  place  as  might  be  designated  by  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor,  and   it  was   the  duty  of  the  Guardians  of  the   Poor  to  make 


76  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

and  exhibit  to  the  said  Directors  estimates  of  the  probable  amount 
of  money  that  would  be  required  for  the  relief  of  the  poor  for  the 
year,  and  the  Directors  were  instructed  to  make  an  assessment,  not 
exceeding  fifty  cents  on  the  hundred  dollars,  at  any  one  time,  upon 
the  value  of  all  the  real  and  personal  estate  within  the  said  dis- 
tricts and  townships  respectively,  and  not  more  than  one  dollar  per 
head  on  ever}^  freeman  in  any  fifty-cent  tax,  and  so  in  proportion 
for  ev^ery  less  rate  on  the  county  assessment,  for  the  purpose  of 
defraying  the  expenses  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor. 

The  Directors,  in  laying  the  rates  as  aforesaid,  were  to  be 
guided  by  the  county  assessment  made,  or  to  be  made,  having  due 
regard  to  every  man's  estate  within  the  district.  The  rates  were 
entered  in  a  book  and  signed  by  the  Directors.  The  book  was 
delivered  to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  a  return  made  to  the 
respective  districts,  showing  the  amount  of  money  required  and 
the  assessments  made.  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  were  author- 
ized to  employ  collectors. 

''  Section  9. — Immediately  after  the  election  of  Guardians 
of  the  Poor,  on  the  third  Monday  of  May  next,  as  directed  by 
tbe  first  Section  of  this  Act,  the  Select  and  Common  Councils 
of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  Commissioners  of  the  respec- 
tive districts,  as  aforesaid,  shall  elect  twelve  respectable  citi- 
zens within  the  bounds  of  their  respective  jurisdictions,  who  shall 
be  styled  the  '  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of  buildings  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  poor.'  The  Select  and  Common  Councils 
shall  elect  six,  the  Commissioners  for  the  incorporated  district  of 
the  Northern  Liberties  shall  elect  two,  the  Commissioners  of  South- 
wark  shall  elect  two,  and  the  Commissioners  of  Spring  Garden  and 
the  Commissioners  of  the  Kensington  districts  shall  each  elect  one, 
and  the  said  electing  bodies  shall,  by  their  respective  clerks,  give 
notice  in  writing,  to  each  of  the  persons  so  chosen,  within  two  days 
thereafter,  and  the  said  '  Commissioners  '  shall  meet  at  the  Alms- 
house on  the  fourth  Monday  of  May  next,  at  3  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, and  respectively  take  an  oath  or  affirmation,  to  be  adminis- 
tered by  any  Alderman  of  the  City,  or  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
County  of  Philadelphia,  faithfully  to  discharge  the  office  of  '  Com- 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  77 

missioner  for  erecting  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the  poor,' 
and  to  perform  all  the  duties  required  by  this  act,  truly  and  faith- 
fully, to  the  best  of  his  knowledge  and  abilities,  and  the  said  Com- 
missioners shall  there  form  a  Board  and  appoint  one  of  their  own 
body  President,  to  preside  over  their  deliberations,  and  may  from 
time  to  time  make  such  rules  and  regulations  for  their  government 
and  the  business  and  duties  of  the  said  Commissioners  as  the}^  niay 
think  proper  and  necessary." 

''  Section  io.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  said  Commissioners,  hav- 
ing first  obtained  the  approbation  of  tbe  said  Board  of  Guardians, 
to  purchase  a  suitable  site,  not  exceeding  two  miles  from  Market 
and  Broad  streets,  tke  title  whereof  shall  be  vested  in  said  corpora- 
tion, for  the  erection  of  buildings  suitable  for  an  Hospital,  Alms- 
house, House  of  Employment,  and  Childrens'  Asylum,  and  to 
cause,  as  soon  as  practicable,  the  necessary  buildings  to  be  erected 
and  constructed,  upon  such  plan  or  plans  as  a  majority  of  said 
Commissioners  may  think  proper  for  the  purpose  contemplated ; 
suck  plan  or  plans  having  been  first  submitted  and  approved  by 
tke  said  Board  of  Guardians,  having  due  regard  to  the  full  and 
comfortable  provision  for  all  such  poor  persons  as  may  require 
medical  or  surgical  aid ;  and,  also  for  such  as  may  be  unable, 
through  age  or  other  infirmities,  to  procure  subsistence ;  and  for 
the  employment  of  all  those  who  may  be  able  to  work  ;  and  also 
for  the  health,  convenience  and  instruction  of  the  children ;  to 
make  all  necessary  contracts  for  material,  &c.,  and,  in  the  case  of 
the  death  or  resignation  of  any  of  the  said  Commissioners  before 
the  completion  of  their  trusts,  the  electing  bodies,  within  whose 
jurisdiction  the  vacancy  may  occur,  shall  fill  the  same,  on  notice 
thereof,  in  manner  aforesaid,  and  each  of  the  said  electing  bodies 
shall  have  power,  from  time  to  time,  and  at  all  times,  to  remove 
any  of  the  said  Commissioners  appointed  by  such  body,  and  to 
appoint  another  person  or  persons  to  fill  the  vacancy  or  vacan- 
cies thus  occasioned.  Provided,  that  should  the  Board  of  Guard- 
ians deem  it  necessary  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the  sick, 
the  said  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to  purchase  a  site 
and  erect  an   Hospital  at  some  convenient  place  within  the  limits 


78  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  Philadelphia,  to  the  eastward  of  EigHtli  street  from  the    river 
Schuylkill." 

"  Section  ii.  In  order  to  carry  the  objects  and  provisions  of 
the  law  into  complete  effect,  it  shall  and  may  be  lawful,  and  said 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  are  hereby  authorized  and  invested  with 
full  power  to  negotiate  and  contract  for  and  upon  the  faith  of  the 
said  corporation  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  any  loan  or  lo?ns, 
from  time  to  time,  according  to  their  discretion,  not  exceeding  two 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  dollars,  upon  the  best  terms  and  lowest 
rate  of  interest,  payable  half  yearly ;  and  the  said  corporation  of 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  shall  receive  the  amount  of  said  loans, 
and  are  Hereby  authorized  and  required  to  issue  certificates  of 
stock,  duly  attested  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Guardians,  under  the  corporate  seal,  for  any  sum  or  sums  not 
less  than  one  hundred  dollars  each,  as  may  from  time  to  time  be 
necessary,  in  pursuance  of  the  contract  for  such  loans,  which  certi- 
ficates shall  be  transferable  on  the  books  of  the  said  corporation, 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  certificates  of  loans  made  to  the  corpora- 
tion of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  are  transferable  ;  and  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  said  Guardians  to  keep  regular  transfer  books,  and  to 
adopt  such  proceedings,  from  time  to  time,  in  relation  to  such  trans- 
fers as  may  be  deemed  advisable ;  which  loans  as  aforesaid,  to  be 
made,  and  the  premiums,  if  any  thereon,  shall  exclusively  be 
appropriated  to  the  purchase  of  the  site  and  the  erection  of  the 
buildings,  as  aforesaid,  and  for  no  other  purpose  whatsoever; 
and  the  money  arising  therefrom  shall  be  deposited  in  bank, 
in  the  name  of  the  corporation  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and 
may,  from  time  to  time,  be  drawn  out  by  checks  signed  by  the 
President  and  at  least  two  other  members  of  the  Board ;  and 
attested  by  the  Secretar}?-,  and  paid  over  to  said  Commissioners 
for  the  purposes  aforesaid,  who  shall  keep  regular  accounts  of 
all  monies  received  and  expended  by  them,  and  shall  render  such 
accounts,  and  produce  their  vouchers  quarterly  to  the  Guardians  of 
the  Poor." 

"  Section  12  authorized  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  to  sell  the 
old   Almshouse    and  lots   and  the    proceeds   of   the  property  was 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  79 

appropriated  towards  the  purchase  of  the  site  and  the  erection  of 
the  buildings." 

In  compliance  with  the  act,  the  following  named  gentlemen 
were  elected  as  ''  Guardians  of  the  Poor  :" 

By  the  Select  and  Common  Councils — Messrs.  Thomas  P. 
Cope,  Abraham  L.  Pennock,  Matthew  L.  Bevan,  Thomas  Rogers, 
Thomas  Earp  and  John  Hemphill. 

By  the  District  of  Southwark — Messrs.  Jesse  R.  Burden  and 
John  Keefe. 

By  the  Northern  Liberties — Messrs.  John  '  Kessler,  Jr.,  and 
William  Binder. 

By  the  Kensington  District — ]\Ir.  Michael  Day. 

By  Penn  Township — I\Ir.  James  S.  Spencer. 

The  Board  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr  Thomas  P. 
Cope  as  President,  Mr.  Geo.  Hejd  as  Secretary  and  Mr.  Abraham 
L.  Pennock  as  Treasurer.  John  M.  Scott,  Esq.,  was  elected  as 
Solicitor  for  the  corporation. 

Agreeably  to  the  act  the  following  named  were  elected  "  Com- 
missioners for  erecting  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
Poor : " 

By  the  Select  and  Common  Councils — Messrs.  John  Moore, 
Elkanah  Keyser,  William  Boyd,  Nathan  Bunker,  Charles  Johnston, 
and  Isaac  Roach. 

By  the  Northern  Liberties — Messrs.  George  N.  Baker,  and 
James  A.  Alahany. 

By  the  District  of  Southwark — Messrs.  William  McGlensey 
and  Thomas  D.  Grover. 

By  Spring  Garden  or  Penn  Township,  Mr.  John  M.  Ogden. 

By  Kensington — Mr.  George  Wilson. 

The  Board  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  William  Boyd  as 
President,  and  the  appointment  of  Mr.  George  N.  Baker  as  Secre- 
tary Z?'*?  te7n. 

On  June  2d,  1828,  Messrs.  Boyd,  Keyser,  Baker,  Ogden, 
Wilson  and  McGlensey  were  appointed  as  a  ''  committee  to  inquire 
and  seek  an  eligible  situation  suitable  for  the  erection  of  buildings 
for  the  accommodation  and  employment  of  the  poor,  under  the 


80 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


Act  of  Assembly,  by  advertising  or  otherwise,  and  report  to  the 
Board  " 

Bids  were  advertised  for,  and  on  July  i8th  the  Board  met  and 
"  proceeded  to  view  and  examine  tbe  different  lots  of  ground  which, 
bad  been  proposed  by  the  owners  to  sell,  agreeably  to  the  following 
scbedule." 


Jeremiah  Warden  .... 

William  Parker 

John  Gardiner,  Jr.  .  .  . 
James  Sharwood  .... 
George  Harrison  .... 

Lewis  Reineck 

John  Lambert 

John  Evans 

J.  C.  Fisher 

Caleb  Griffith 

Henry  Pratt 

Henry  J.  Williams  .  .  . 
Henry  J-  Williams    .    .     • 

N.  Nathans 

Michael  Pray 

Simon  Gratz      

Samuel  Keith 

T.  Mitchell 

T.  Mitchell 

Thomas  Lieper,  executor 

David  Woelper 

John  Lambert 

Geo.  F.  Randolph    .    .    . 

Samuel  Keith 

N.  E.  Thomas 

Joseph  Jouett 

T.  Camac 

H.  Nixon 

"Hamilton  Estate  .... 


30 

45 
27 
27 

30 
22 
29 
10 
21 

32 
82 
10 
15 
49 
31 
71 
18 

24 
25 
33 
27 
35 
42 
10 
10 
12 
20 
30 
158 


LOCATION. 


N.  W.  from  Center  Sq.,  op.  H.  Pratt's  seat 
Ridge  Road,  adj'g  lands  of  H.  Dixon  .    . 
On  5th  St.  Road,  S   E.  from  Center  Sq.  . 
N.  W.  from  Dr.  Turner's  Lane      .... 

Adjoining  to  Penitentiary 

On  Long  Lane  Neck 

Turner's  Lane,  adjoining  Sharwood's  .    . 

Stamper's  Lane 

Adj'g  H.  Pratt's  and  Schuylkill  River    . 

Islington  Lane 

W.  of  Schuylkill,  near  Hamilton\ille  .    . 
Francis'  Lane,  E.  Penitentiary  .    .    . 

South  Penitentiary 

Fallsof  Schuylkill  Road 

Inter.  Turner's  Lane 

Broad  Street 

Ridge  Road,  near  Turner's  Lane   .... 
Adjoining  U.  S.  Marine  Hospital  .... 

South  Side  U.  S.  Arsenal 

Neck  Laud,  Passyunk  Township  .... 

North  Side  Turner's  Lane 

Ridge  Road  and  Turner's  Lane 

North  end  Broad  Sireet 

Germantown  Road 

Adjoining  above 

Francisviile  and  Ridge  Road 

Camac  Street,  near  Broad  Street   .... 

Ridge  Road 

Adj'g  Woodlands,  W.  of  Schuj'lkill  River 


^12,500. 

37,500. 

11,000. 

12,500. 

600 

300 

18,000. 

10,000. 

25,000. 

12,000. 

250 

1,000 

3,000 

300 

10,000. 

10,000. 

5,000. 

35-000. 

25,000. 

200 

12,000. 

27,500. 

30,000. 

1,500 

2,000 

9,500 

1,000 

25,000 

300 


per  acre, 
per  acre. 


per  acre, 
per  acre, 
per  acre, 
per  acre. 


per  acre. 

per  acre, 
per  acre. 

per  acre. 

per  acre. 


After  visiting  the  grounds  offered,  the  Commissioners  selected 
the  piece  belonging  to  th.e  Hamilton  Estate,  and  with,  the  approval 
of  tbe  Guardians  of  the  Poor  it  was  purchased  for  the  sum  of  two 
hundred  and  seventy  five  dollars  per  acre. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  81 

This  ground  possessed  many  advantages— plenty  of  fresh  air 
and  excellent  facilities  for  drainage. 

The  deed  conveying  the  property  reads  : 

"  This  Indenture, 
Made  the  first  day  of  January  in   the  year  ot  our  Lord  one  thous- 
and  eight   hundred   and   twenty  nine,  between   Henry  Beckett  of 
the  city  of  Philadelphia   merchant   and  Mary  his  wife  of  the  one 
part  and  the   Guardians   for  the  Relief  and   Employment  of  the 
Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  the   District  of  Southwark    and 
the  Townships  of  the  Northern  Liberties  and  Penn  witnesseth  that 
the  said  Henry  Beckett  and  Mary  his  wife  for  and  in  consideration 
of  the  sum  of  Fifty  one  thousand  five  hundred  and  twenty  eight 
dollars  twelve  aud-a  half  cents  lawful  money  to  them  in  hand  paid 
by  the  said  Guardians  for  the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor 
of  the  city  of   Philadelphia  the   District   of   Southwark  and   the 
Townships  of  Northern  Liberties  and  Penn  at  the  time  of  the  exe- 
cution hereof  the  receipt  whereof  is   hereby   acknowledged  have 
granted  bargained  sold  released  and  confirmed  and  by  these  presents 
do  grant  bargain  sell  release  and  confirm  unto  the  said  Guardians 
for  "the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia the   District  of    Southwark    and    the   Townships  of   the 
Northern  Liberties  and  Penn  their  successors  and  assigns  all  that 
certain  Tract  Plantation  and  parcel  of  land  situate  on  the  west  side 
of  the  River  Schuylkill  in  the  Township  of  Blockley  and  County 
of  Philadelphia   in    the   State   of   Pennsylvania     Being    part  of  a 
certain  larger  tract  of  land  known  by  the   name  of  the  Wood- 
lands  bounded    and    described    agreeably   to    a    resurvey   thereof 
lately  made  by  Enock  Lewis,  Esquire  as  follows  Beginning  at  a 
Post  on  the  margin  of  the  River  Schuylkill  at  low  water  mark  in 
the  mouth  of  a  small  creek  and  at  the  corner  of  land  belonging  to 
John   Hare   Powell   and  Edward  S.  Burd   Esquire  thence  up  the 
creek  by  the  land  of  the  said  Powell  and  Burd  north  thirty  six 
and  two  thirds  of  a  degree  West  nineteen  perches  and  one  sixteenth 
of  a  perch  to  a  post  North  fifty  three  degrees  west  twenty  three 
perches  to  a  post,  thence  leaving  the  creek  but  still  along  the  line 
6 


82  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  Powell  and  Burd's  land  north,  forty-nine  and  a  half  degrees, 
west  one  hundred  and  eight  perches  to  a  post  on  the  southern  side 
of  the  Darby  road,  south  sixty-two  degrees  and  a  quarter  west,  one 
hundred  and  three  perches  and  a  quarter  of  a  perch,  to  a  corner  of 
Thomas  Fleming's  land ;  thence  by  the  said  Fleming's  laud  south 
twenty  six  degrees  east,  seventy  nine  perches  and  four  tenths  to  a 
post  in  a  small  stream  of  water ;  thence  south  ten  degrees  west 
twenty  one  perches  and  five  tenths  of  a  perch  to  a  post ;  thence 
south  one  quarter  of  a  degree  east,  fifty  one  perches  and  seven 
tenths  of  a  perch  to  the  low  water  mark  of  the  River  Schuylkill ; 
and  thence  up  the  said  river,  by  the  several  meanders  thereof,  two 
hundred  and  sixty  two  perches,  more  or  less,  to  the  place  of  begin- 
ning, containing  one  hundred  and  eighty  seven  acres  atid  sixty 
perches  of  land  ;  being  the  same  tract  of  land  and  premises  which 
Jacob  Strembeck  Esquire,  High  Sheriff  of  the  City  and  County  of 
Philadelphia,  by  Deed  Roll  stated  the  eighth  day  of  December  last 
past  granted  and  conveyed  to  the  said  Henry  Beckett  in  fee  seized 
and  sold  by  virtue  of  legal  proceedings  issued  out  of  the  District 
Court  for  the  City  and  County  of  Philadelphia  as  the  property  of 
William  Hamilton,  Esquire,  deceased,  at  the  suit  of  Margaret 
Hamilton  as  in  and  by  the  said  recited  Deed  Roll  duly  acknowl- 
edged and  entered  among  the  records  of  the  said  Court  in  Book  E 
page  231  ;  and  will  more  fully  appear  together  with  all  and  singu- 
lar the  buildings,  improvements  marsh  cripple  landings  landing 
places  ways  waters  water  courses  rights  liberties  privileges  here- 
ditaments and  appurtenances  whatsoever  thereunto  belonging  or  in 
any  wise  appertaining ;  and  the  reversions  remainders  rents 
issues  and  profits  thereof,  and  all  the  estate  right  title  interest 
property  claim  and  demand  whatsover  of  him  the  said  Henry 
Beckett  and  Mary  his  wife  as  well  at  law  as  in  equity  of  into 
and  out  of  the  same  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  Plantation  Tract 
and  parcel  of  land  hereditaments  and  premises  hereby  granted  or 
mentioned  and  intended  so  to  be  with  the  appurtenances  unto  the 
said  the  Guardians  for  the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  the  District  of  Southwark  and  the  Town- 
ships  of   the  Northern    Liberties   and   Penn   aforesaid,  their   sue- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  83 

cessors  and  assigns  forever ;  and  the  said  Henry  Beckett  for  him- 
self, his  heirs,  executors,  and  administrators  doth  hereby  covenant 
promise  and.  agree  to  and  with  the  said  the  Guardians  for  the 
Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia 
the  District  of  Southwark  and  the  Townships  of  Northern  Liber- 
ties and  Penn,  their  successors  and.  assigns  in  manner  following  :  to 
say  that  he  the  said  Henry  Beckett  and  his  heirs,  all  and  singular, 
the  hereditaments  and  premises  hereby  granted  or  mentioned  and 
intended  so  to  b^  with  the  appurtenances  unto  the  said  the  Guar- 
dians for  the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  the  District  of  Southwark  and  the  Townships  of  the 
Northern  Liberties  and  Penn  their  successors  and  assigns  against 
him,  the  said  Henry  Beckett,  and  his  heirs,  and  against  all  and 
every  other  person  and  persons  whatsoever  lawfully  claiming  or  to 
claim  by  from  or  under  him  them  or  any  of  them  shall  and  will 
warrant  and  forever  defend  by  these  presents. 

"  In  witness  whereof  the  said  Henry  Beckett  and  his  wife  have 
hereunto  set  their  respective  hands  and  seals  dated  the  day  and 
year  first  above  written. 

"  Sealed  and  delivered  in  1  " 

the  presence  of  I  Henry  Beckett,  [l.  S.] 

"  G.  Bartram,  I  Mary  Beckett,     [l.  s.] 

"A.  W.  Johnston."  j 


CHA'PTER  VII. 

PLANS  FOR  BUILDING  NEW  ALMSHOUSE— HOUSE  OF  REFUGE  OPENED. 

ON  September  Sth,  1828  the  Commissioners  were  informed 
of  the  death  of  J.  A.  Mahany,  Esq.,  one  of  their  mem- 
bers. Daniel  Groves,  Esq.,  was  subsequently  elected  to 
fill  the  vacancy. 
The  Guardians  appointed  Messrs,  Thomas  P.  Cope,  Thomas 
Rogers,  Dr.  Burden,  Thomas  Earp,  and  John  Kessler  as  a  commit- 
tee to  confer  with  Isaac  Roach,  Thomas  D.  Grover,  E.  W.  Keyser, 
Daniel  Groves  and  Charles  Johnston,  the  Committee  of  the  Com- 
missioners as  to  the  plans  for  the  erection  of  the  buildings,  &c. 

At  the  meeting  of  Commissioners,  on  October  6th,  1828,  the 
committee  appointed  to  confer  with  the  Guardians  submitted  the 
following  report : 

"That  in  joint  meeting  the  committees  from  the  two  Boards 
proceeded  to  obtain  a  census  of  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse  and 
Children's  Asylum  and  the  number  of  the  out  door  poor  to  whom 
relief  is  at  present  afforded  and  from  a  careful  examination  of  the 
contemplated  system  of  employing  the  poor,  they  are  of  opinion 
that  the  following  buildings  will  be  required  to  be  erected  on  the 
site  of  ground  west  of  Schuylkill,  say. 

Almshouse  Proper. 
"  This  building  should  be  calculated  to  accommodate  about 
1250  paupers,  and  in  the  construction  of  it  a  complete  separation 
of  the  sexes  should  be  kept  in  view  and  a  proper  classification  of 
the  inmates  ;  provision  to  be  rap.de  for  80  married  persons,  also  for 
the  Steward's  and  Matron's  families,  students,  clerks  and  other 
ofScers,  rooms  for  the  Guardians  to  meet  in  and  ofSces  for  transact- 
ing the  business  of  the  institution,  kitchen  for  the  paupers,  &c. 

"  House  of  Employment. 

"  To  be  constructed  with  suitable  apartments  for  workshops, 
etc.,  and  for  lodging  about  500  persons  in  separate  rooms.     In  this 

84 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  85 

house  the  sexes  must  be  kept  separate,  so  as  not  to  have  opportunity 
of  communicating  with  each  other  ;  the  whole  of  this  establish- 
ment to  be  enclosed  with  a  wall  sufficiently  high  to  prevent  escape, 
and  to  take  in  space  for  large  yard,  kitchen,  refectory,  etc. 

"  Hospital. 

"  This  building  to  be  large  enough  to  contain  600  patients, 
including  lunatics,  and  to  be  divided  into  suitable  apartments  for 
the  different  descriptions  of  diseases  ;  to  have  a  lecture  room  suffi- 
cient to  hold  500  students,  an  apothecary  shop,  a  large  room  for 
storing  drugs,  a  library  room  and  a  room  for  a  laboratory  (fire- 
proof), a  dead  room  and  another  for  post-mortem  examinations,  etc. 
Special  attention  must  be  given  to  have  every  room  in  the  hospital 
properly  ventilated,  one  fireplace  in  each  room,  but  the  different 
apartments  to  be  warmed  with  heated  air  as  far  as  practicable,  the 
sexes  to  be  kept  entirely  separated  ;  100  cells  to  be  constructed  for 
the  insane,  and  suitable  rooms  for  the  cell-keepers  and  assistants  ; 
the  whole  to  be  enclosed  with  a  high  wall  or  fence  to  prevent 
escape  ;  kitchen,  refectory,  etc. 

"  Children's  x^sylum. 

"  This  building  to  accommodate  400  children,  with  apartments 
for  the  matron  and  assistants,  school-room,  infirmary,  etc.,  the 
sexes  to  be  kept  separated  ;  large  yards  to  be  enclosed  for  the  use 
of  the  children,  kitchen,  refectory,  etc. 

"  A  building  for  storehouse  or  some  accommodations  in  one  of 
the  buildings  for  that  purpose. 

"  Some  one  of  these  buildings  to  contain  a  commodious  apart- 
ment or  place  for  public  worship." 

William  Dougherty  was  employed  to  open  and  examine  the 
quarries  on  the  nevv'  grounds,  and  report  was  made  that  "  much 
valuable  stone  for  the  contemplated  buildings  will  be  obtained." 

Plans  for  the  buildings  were  advertised  for  October  23d,  1828, 
and  a  premium  of  three  hundred  dollars  was  offered  for  the  "  most 
approved  plan  of  buildings,  accompanied  with  estimates. 

November  10th,  1828.  The  committee  recommended  the  con- 
struction of  a  wharf  opposite  the  termination  of  South  street,  and 


86  History  of  Philadelpliia  Almsliou'^es  and  Hospitals. 

the  Board  resolved  "  that  a  wharf  or  landing,  together  with  a  road 
leading  from  the  fast  land  thereto,  be  constructed  as  soon  as  prac- 
ticable, and  that  the  south  line  thereof  be  upon  a  line  and  in  the 
direction  of  the  north  side  of  South  street,  extending  into  the  river 
until  it  affords  a  depth  of  five  feet  at  low  water.  The  front  to  be 
sixty  feet  extending  northward,  and  from  there  on  the  north  side 
to  the  shore,  at  right  angle  with  the  front  thereof." 

The  wharf  was  erected  by  Mr.  Thomas  D.  Grover  for  the 
sum  of  three  thousand  six  hundred  and  seventy  dollars. 

Plans  and  estimates  were  received  from  Messrs.  William 
Strickland,  George  Sennef  and  J.  Haviland.  Due  consideration 
was  given  them,  and  at  the  meeting  held  on  March  6th,  1829,  ^^^ 
following  resolution,  offered  by  Mr.  George  N.  Baker,  was  adopted  : 

''Resolved^  That  the  plan  submitted  by  William  Strickland,  as 
to  its  form  and  general  outlines,  is  such  as  to  merit  the  approba- 
tion of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  and  that  such  part  or  parts 
thereof  ma}^  be  altered  or  dispensed  with  as  circumstances  may 
require,  and  that  the  concurrence  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  be 
requested  thereto." 

The  Guardians,  "  after  deliberating  for  some  hours  on  the 
plans  submitted  for  their  consideration,  came  to  the  resolution  to 
appoint  a  committee  consisting  of  Thomas  Rogers,  Thomas  Earp 
and  A.  L.  Pennock,  to  confer  with  the  commissioners  on  the 
subject." 

Sealed  proposals  for  a  five  per  cent,  loan  for  $100,000  were 
advertised  for  on  December  8th,  to  be  opened  December  29th,  1828, 
"  the  money  to  be  applied  towards  the  purchasing  of  grounds  and 
the  erection  of  buildings."  A  lien  upon  the  property  purchased 
and  the  buildings  to  be  erected  w^as  given  as  security  for  the  pay- 
ment of  principal  and.  interest.  Stephen  Girard,  Esq.,  offered  to 
take  twent3^-five  thousand  dollars  of  the  loan  at  par^  and  Thomas 
Phipps,  one  of  the  assignees  of  Harper  &  Gillingham,  offered  to 
take  four  thousand  dollars  of  it  on  the  same  terms.  Both  offers 
were  accepted. 

In  December,  1828,  the  Board  of  Guardians  received  notice 
that  the   House  of  Refuge   had  been   opened  for  the  reception  of 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  87 

vagrant  or  delinquent  juveniles.  This  information  was  a  source 
of  congratulation,  as  it  solved  the  very  serious  problem  of  what 
was  best  to  be  done  with  that  class  of  boys  and  girls. 

The  Committee  of  the  Guardians  appointed  to  confer  with  the 
Commissioners  presented  the  following  commuuication  to  that 
body : 

"  A  plan  of  a  suite  of  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
poor"  intended  to  illustrate  some  of  the  views  entertained  by  the 
members  of  the  Board  was  submitted  at  the  last  meeting. 

"It  is  now  resolved  that  our  committee  be  directed  to  lay  that 
plan  before  the  Commissioners,  together  with  the  following  commu- 
nication, which  is  directed  to  be  signed  b}^  tbe  President  and.  attested 
by  the  Secretary. 

"  The  Guardians  hold  in  respectful  consideration  the  attention 
given  by  the  Commissioners  to  the  subject  of  buildings. 

''It  is  under  these  feelings  they  have  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  with  the  Commissioners  on  the  subject  of  the  plans  sub- 
mitted by  the  latter,  and  to  express  the  views  which  the  Guardians 
have  in  relation  to  that  plan,  among  which  are  the  following : 

''  I  St.  The  Guardians  are  of  opinion  that  if  the  several  Build- 
ings to  be  erected  are  to  have  distinct  Superintendents,  their  being- 
grouped  together  as  delineated  in  the  Plan  is  not  necessary,  and  so 
far  as  the  arrangement  would  preclude  the  extension  of  any  of  the 
Buildings,  or  interfere  with  a  suitable  classification  of  the  Inmates, 
it  would  be  inconvenient. 

"  2d.  But  the  Guardians  are  of  opinion  that  a  Judicious 
administration  of  the  public  funds,  independent  of  other  considera- 
tions of  economy,  would  not  permit  the  employment  of  more  than 
one  principal  male  and  one  principal  female  Superintendent. 
With  this  view  it  is  important  that  all  the  females  should  be 
brought  as  near  as  conveniently  may  be  to  the  Matron,  and  in  the 
same  manner  all  the  males  should  be  brought  as  near  as  possible 
to  the  Steward.  With  the  best  possible  arrangement  the  duty  of 
visitation  will  be  arduous,  but  on  the  plan  proposed  it  would  be 
doubly  so,  from  the  manner  in  which  the  men  and  women  are 
alternately  located,  requiring  the  Matron  to  pass  through  ranges 


88  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  the  buildings  appropriated  to  the  men  and  of  the  Steward  a 
similar  passage  through  the  apartments  of  the  women,  or  other- 
wise requiring  them  to  pass  considerable  distances  exposed  to  the 
weather. 

"  3d.  The  Physicians  of  the  house  form  necessarily  a  part  of 
the  Steward's  family.  The  spaces  they  will  have  to  traverse  and 
their  exposure  to  the  weather  in  passing  to  and  from  the  Hospital 
are  important  considerations,  both  as  it  regards  them  and  the  sub- 
jects under  their  care. 

"  4th.  A  separation  of  the  sexes  is  of  great  consequence.  In 
our  present  establishment  it  is  found  impossible,  and  consequently 
great  inconveniences  arise  from  their  too  free  intercourse,  and 
therefore  the  Guardians  are  particularly  solicitous  of  finding  this 
object  fully  attained  in  the  Plan  which  shall  ultimately  be  adopted. 
Again,  a  proper  classification  of  the  different  grades  is  scarcely  of 
less  moment.  The  Guardians  do  not  perceive  that  their  objects 
have  claimed  the  due  attention  of  the  Architect,  nor  is  it  seen  how 
they  can  be  readily  accomplished  with  the  plan  submitted  to  them. 

"  5th.  The  Guardians  are  of  opinion  that  so  far  as  it  can  be 
obtained  without  too  great  an  extension  of  the  plot  all  long  entries 
or  passages  ought  to  be  on  the  side  of  the  buildings,  in  preference 
to  the  middle,  from  the  difficulty  of  preserving  a  pure  atmosphere 
in  long  middle  passages.  By  putting  the  passages  on  the  side, 
Piazzas  are  rendered  unnecessary,  and  more  pervious  may  bene- 
ficially occupy  a  room  of  given  dimensions  on  one  side  of  such  a 
passage,  owing  to  the  purer  atmosphere,  than  in  a  room  of  the 
same  size  on  one  side  of  a  middle  passage. 

"  6th.  The  Hospital  and  House  of  Employment,  instead  of 
being  contiguous,  should  be  at  remote  points  of  the  plot,  that  the 
sick  may  not  be  annoyed  by  the  noise  of  the  latter  establishment. 

"The  Guardians  suggest  that  the  whole  basement  story 
should  be  above  ground,  with  the  exception  of  such  apartments  of 
it  as  are  intended  for  cooking,  or  for  furnaces  of  any  description. 
These  should  be  made  fire-proof,  and  of  course  will  have  to  be 
depressed  to  leave  room  for  arching. 

"  The  plans  which  the  Guardians  have  instructed  the  Com- 


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History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  89 

mittee  to  submit  to  the  consideration  of  the  Commissioners  was 
prepared  and  is  presented  to  the  latter  for  the  purpose  merel}'  of 
exhibiting  some  of  the  leading  views  which  the  Board  entertains 
in  relation  to  the  great  object  to  be  obtained.  The  minor  details 
of  the  plan  have  not  as  yet  engaged  the  particular  attention  of  the 
Board." 

The  plans  were  referred  to  the  Physicians,  and  they  made  the 
following  report,  March  28,  1829  • 

"  The  Committee  of  Physicians,  to  whom  were  referred  several 
Plans  for  a  new  Hospital,  report  that  they  bestowed  such  attention 
as  the  importance  of  the  subject  requires.  Of  these  plans  the  one 
proposed  by  the  Guardians  comes  the  nearest  to  what  the  Com- 
mittee -conceive  should  be  the  interior  arrangement  of  a  Hospital ; 
the  others  they  are  disposed  to  reject  wholly  as  not  applicable  to  the 
case  in  view.  The  remarks  which  they  make  are  therefore  intended 
for  the  plan  of  the  Board  of  Guardians. 

"  The  Committee  think  that  the  long  entry  or  passage  should 
be  abandoned,  and  the  space  thus  alloted  to  be  applied  to 
increase  the  size  of  the  Wards.  The  Wards  themselves  should  be 
enlarged  by  leaving  out  many  of  the  partitions  marked  in  the 
plan,  as  the  present  well-established  experience  in  Europe  'is  in 
favor  of  very  large  rooms  wherever  there  may  be  sick  people.  The 
Committee  also  think  that  this  plan  would  be  much  improved  by  a 
Piazza  along  one  side  of  the  building,  which  will  answer  both  for 
communications  between  different  parts  of  it  and  for  exercise  and 
exposure  to  open  air  for  convalescents. 

"  Maniacs  should  be  accommodated  in  a  wing  and  above 
ground.  The  cellars  should  in  every  case  be  left  untenanted, 
except  as  of&ces,  for  cooking,  washing  and  store-rooms,  for  their 
unavoidable  dampness  in  this  climate  is  a  radical  objection  on  the 
score  of  humanity  to  their  being  used  as  permanent  abodes.  There 
are  few  animals,  except  the  amphibious,  which  can  bear  constant 
immersion  in  an  atmosphere  of  that  kind  without  great  prejudice 
to  health. 

''  The  Committee  are  fully  satisfied  that  the  space  marked 
out  on  the  plan  will  not  accommodate  more  than  400,  or  at  most  450 


90  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

patients,  and  then  they  will  be  crowded  and  may  generate  pestilential 
effluvia.  The  opinion  is  founded  on  the  following  calculations,  which, 
may  be  applied  to  any  number,  great  or  small,  of  patients.  Bach 
patient  should  have  alloted  to  him  a  space  of  six  by  ten  feet  with 
an  elevation  of  twelve  feet ;  by  applying  this  simple  rule  to  the 
plan  it  will  produce  the  result  stated,  to  wit :  accommodations  for 
450  persons.  But,  in  addition,  some  space  mnst  be  conceded  in 
every  ward  to  tables,  chairs  and  water  closets  ;  a  very  moderate 
concession  to  such  articles  would  be  one-sixth  of  the  whole  ward. 
The  latter  must  therefore  be  enlarged  or  the  number  of  the  patients 
reduced  proportionately. 

''  As  the  position  of  the  new  Hospital  is  yet  to  be  determined 
on,  the  Committee  deem  it  a  suitable  time  to  state  as  their  opinion, 
and  that  of  their  colleagues,  that  the  location  of  it  out  of  toM'n 
would  be  detrimental  to  its  service,  and  in  the  highest  degree  inju- 
rious to  the  just  reputation  which  Philadelphia  enjoys  for  furnish- 
ing the  best  and  most  copious  means  of  medical  instruction  in  the 
United  States. 

"  The  Committee  also  believe  that  there  are  many  important 
pecuniary  interests  of  the  citizens  which  would  be  materially 
injured  by  a  measure  curtailing  the  means  of  medical  instruction, 
and  thereby  putting  other  cities  of  less  note  and  advantage  upon 
an  equal  footing  with  our  own."  • 

It  will  be  seen  that  there  was  much  diversity  of  opinion 
regarding  the  plans  of  buildings,  and  there  was  considerable 
thought  given  as  to  the  advisability  of  erecting  the  Hospital  on 
grounds  "  east  of  Eighth  Street  from  the  Schuylkill." 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

REPORT   ON   LOCATION   OF   NEW   HOSPITAL. 

THE   Guardians   appointed  a  special  Committee  to  consider 
tlie  question  of  "  location  of  Hospital,"  and  the  subject  was 
discussed  thoroughly.       After   all    parties   interested    had 
been  heard,  and  their  remarks  duly  considered,  the  Com- 
mittee submitted  the  following  exhaustive  report : 

"  The  Committee  to  whose  consideration  was  referred  the 
important  subject  of  the  location  of  the  Hospital  for  the  poor,  have 
endeavored  to  give  it  the  attention  to  which  it  is  entitled,  and  they 
submit  as  a  result  of  their  deliberations  the  following  report : 
'  Pursuant  to  that  portion  of  the  Act  of  March,  1828,  which  author- 
ized the  "  Commissioners  for  erecting  buildings  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  Poor,"  with  the  approbation  of  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  first  obtained,  "  to  purchase  a  suitable  site,  not  exceeding 
two  miles  from  Market  and  Broad  Streets,  for  the  erection  of  build- 
ings suitable  for  an  Hospital,  Almshouse,  House  of  Employment 
and  Children's  Asylum,"  the  Board  of  Commissioners  on  a  unani- 
mous vote  of  its  own  members,  and  the  similar  concurrence  of  this 
Board,  purchased  a  tract  of  land  on  the  western  bank  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill river,  opposite  the  city,  containing  187  acres, 

"  Of  this  tract  about  60  acres  are  meadow  or  susceptible  of 
improvement  as  such  :  the  residue  is  upland.  On  a  ridge  of  the 
upland  is  presented  a  position  as  favorable  in  every  particular  as 
■could  be  reasonably  desired  for  the  site  of  buildings  contemplated 
to  be  erected,  and,  as  respects  salubrity,  no  situation  more  eligible 
it  is  believed  could  have  been  obtained  within  the  range  allowed 
by  the  law. 

"  But  the  above  act  provided  '  That  should  the  said  Board  of 
Guardians  deem  it  necessary  for  the  better  accommodation  of  the 
sick,  the  said  Commissioners  are  hereby  authorized  to  purchase  a 
site  and  erect  an  Hospital  at  some  convenient  place  within  the 
limits  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  to  the  eastward  of  Eighth  street 
from  the  Schuylkill.' 

91 


92  History,  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  It  therefore  becomes  the  duty  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  to 
determine  whether  it  will  be  proper  to  locate  the  Hospital  on  the 
site  already  provided  for  the  buildings  generally  or  on  some  lot 
to  be  hereafter  purchased,  within  the  limits  prescribed  by  the  pro- 
vision of  the  act. 

"  At  the  threshold  of  this  inquiry  we  are  met  by  the  consider- 
ation that  a  large  additional  expense  will  have  to  be  incurred  in 
the  provisions  of  a  site  within  the  city  limits,  should  such  a  pur- 
chase be  resolved  upon.  This  expense  will  not  be  confined  to  the 
procuration  merely  of  a  ground  plot  for  the  building  but  must 
embrace  the  possession  of  ample  grounds  around  it  to  insure  a 
pure  atmosphere  and  free  circulation  of  air.  The  lots  appurten- 
ant to  our  present  establishment,  with  a  sick  population  rarely 
exceeding  400  persons,  embrace  one  entire  and.  one-half  square  of 
our  city  plot.  The  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  which  contains  on  an 
average  of  140  patients  under  medical  treatment  and  100  insane, 
holds  a  space  equivalent  to  three  of  our  city  squares,  and  the  reten- 
tion of  grounds  of  this  extent,  unoccupied  except  by  buildings  for 
the  sick,  is  deemed  by  its  Directors  to  be  essential  to  the  well 
being  and  recovery  of  the  objects  of  their  care. 

"  A  Hospital  for  the  poor  of  this  corporation  ought  to  be 
adapted  to  the  reception  of  at  least  600  patients,  that  number  hav- 
ing been  actually,  though  inconveniently,  under  charge  of  our 
establishment  at  a  former  period.  With  the  data  above  recited,  it 
would  scarcely  be  deemed  prudent  to  estimate  a  city  square  as  being 
sufficient  for  the  purpose  of  this  extended  establishment.  -Your 
committee  certainly  presume  that  no  judicious  person  would  ven- 
ture to  assert  that  it  would  be  safe  to  enter  into  possession  of  less 
than  such  a  square  for  these  objects  ;  or  that  a  lot  of  such  dimen- 
sions, when  surrounded  by  a  compactly  built  city,  and  having 
within  its  circumscribed  limits  the  exhalations  of  600  sick  per- 
sons, would  present  as  pure  an  atmosphere  as  that  belonging  to 
the  vicinity  of  a  hospital  located  in  the  country. 

"  Assuming,  then,  that  a  city  square  is  the  least  quantity  of 
ground  which  it  would  be  proper  to  apply  to  this  object,  the  price  of 
such   a  square  east  of  Bighth   street  from  the    Schuylkill,  and  at 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  93 

the  remote  points  of  tlie  city  plot  either  north  or  south  could  not 
be  estimated  at  less  than  $50,000,  while  in  the  vicinity  of  High  or 
Chestnut  streets  it  would  probably  amount  to  $100,000.  Indeed, 
most  of  the  squares  within  the  prescribed  limits  being  practically 
improved,  it  is  doubtful  whether  a  suitable  site  could  be  obtained 
for  the  average  of  the  prices  named. 

"  We  may  safely  estimate  the  cost  of  the  buildings  for  the 
accommodation  of  the  sick,  either  in  the  city  or  at  the  site  west 
of  the  Schuylkill,  if  built  in  an  equally  plain  manner,  as  being 
about  the  same,  but  the  extra  buildings  required  for  the  officers 
and  servants  of  the  establishment,  and  nearl}^  the  whole  expense 
of  a  wall  to  surround  the  City  Hospital  would  have  to  be  charged 
as  an  expense  peculiar  to  the  latter,  the  plan  of  the  Almshouse 
affording  sufi&cient  accommodation  for  all  the  attendants  of  the 
hospital  if  connected  with  it,  and  requiring  for  its  inclosure 
either  with  or  Mathout  the  hospital  about  the  same  extent  of 
wall.  The  cost  of  the  wall  surrounding  the  present  Almshouse 
and  Infirmary  was  about  $14,000,  and  a  low  estimate  of  the 
expense  of  the  additional  accommodations  would  be  $7,000. 
Charging  however  for  both  these  accounts  $20,000,  and  adding 
this  sum  to  $75,000,  an  average  of  the  estimated  cost  of  the 
site,  it  would  make  the  extra  first  cost  of  the  city  establishment 
^95,000. 

"  But  it  is  not  as  regards  the  site  merely  that  an  enhanced 
expenditure  would  attend  such  an  establishment.  Distinct  male 
and  female  Superintendents,  an  additional  number  of  subalterns, 
both  offi-cers  and  domestics  and  the  waste  of  furnishing  two  estab- 
lishments instead  of  one  could  not  be  estimated,  it  is  confidently 
believed,  at  less  than  $2500  per  annum,  and  would  probably  much 
exceed  that  amount.  This  sum  added  to  the  interest  of  $95,000  at 
5  per  cent,  would  exhibit  the  extra  annual  expenditure  of  the  city 
location  at  $7,250. 

"  If,  however,  it  can  be  made  to  appear  that  the  comfort  and 
recovery  of  the  sick,  which  is  the  primary  object  of  this  institu- 
tion, would  be  best  promoted  by  establishing  the  Hospital  Mdthin 
the  limits  of  the   city,  your   committee   would   regard   it   as   false 


94  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

economy  to   allow  a  difference  of  expenditure,  however  consider- 
able, to  induce  a  decision  adverse  to  these  objects. 

"  With  this  sentiment  your  committee  have  canvassed  with  great 
attention  an  objection  preferred  against  the  site  on  the  west  side  of 
the  Schuylkill,  that  a  removal  of  the  patients  to  that  distance 
would  be  attended  with  great  injury,  and  in  some  cases  would 
prove  fatal  to  them  ;  in  support  of  which,  the  instances  of  persons 
brought  to  the  present  house,  who  have  died  on  their  passage  to 
it,  and  the  probability  of  an  augmented  number  in  case  the  distance 
is  increased,  has  been  urged.  Your  committee,  however,  believe 
that  could  the  facts  be  ascertained,  many  of  the  instances  of  per^. 
sons  attempted  to  be  removed  in  the  last  stages  of  existence,  and 
who  have  died  on  their  way  to  the  present  infirmary,  have  resulted 
out  of  the  too  great  contiguity  to  the  Almshouse,  and  that  a  greater 
distance  from  it  would  have  prompted  an  earlier  removal  or  dis- 
couraged the  attempt  and  thus  averted  the  distressing  catastrophe. 
It  is  very  obvious  that  with  the  increased  distance  a  more  cautious 
proceeding  will  be  observed,  and  th.at  patients  not  fit  to  be  removed 
will  be  provided  for  in  the  way  contemplated  by  the  law,  by  fur- 
nishing them  with  every  requisite  comfort  at  their  homes.  Rarely 
could  the  case  exist  in  which  it  would  be  proper  and  safe  for  an 
invalid  to  be  removed  to  a  city  hospital,  who  could  not  be  removed 
with  equal  propriety  and  safety  to  the  western  site,  the  distance  of 
a  few  squares  with  an  easy  method  of  conveyance  being  very  im- 
material compared  with  the  fatigue  the  patient  experiences  at  each 
end  of  the  route — to  wit :  in  descending  to  and  entering  the  vehicle 
and  in  being  removed  from  it  and  conveyed  into  the  infirmary. 
These  observations  are  made  with  reference  to  the  probabiltv  of 
such  an  improvement  being  made  in  the  manner  of  conveying 
the  patients  generally  as  will  considerably  mitigate  all  the  incon- 
veniences they  at  present  sustain  from  the  existing  modes  of  con- 
veyance. The  ample  provision  made  by  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital 
for  the  reception  of  cases  of  wounds  and  fractures  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  their  recurrence  has  precluded  such  from  being 
brought  to  our  house.  This  class  of  patients  would  therefore  be 
unaffected  by  any  site  adopted  for  the  Hospital.     The  diseases  of  a 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  05 

considerable  portion  of  our  patients  on  admission  to  the  house  are 
chronic.  The  conveyance  of  such  cases,  except  in  the  last  stages 
of  disease,  involves  no  essential  inconvenience.  When  acute  cases 
present  they  would  obtain  from  the  out-door  physicians  and  visit- 
ors that  care  which  would  also  preclude  difficulty.  But  supposing 
the  possible,  yet  improbable  fact,  that  the  patient  might  safely  be 
removed  to  an  infirmary  within  the  city  limits  who  could  not 
without  danger  be  removed  to  one  west  of  the  Schuylkill,  your  com- 
mittee would  suggest  that  in  so  rare  a  contingency  accommodations 
could  be  obtained  for  him  as  a  pay  patient  at  the  Pennsylvania 
Hospital,  and  that  an  expenditure  of  this  kind,  comparatively 
trifling,  would  be  far  more  judicious  than  that  which  would  provide 
a  Hospital  in  the  city  for  the  few  cases  of  this  character  which 
would  ever  occur. 

"It  is  probable  that  no  location  could  be  obtained,  within  the 
city  limits,  to  which  the  same  objection  of  distance  would  not  be 
applied  by  some  portion  of  the  extensive  district  embraced  by  this 
corporation  ;  and  it  ought  to  be  borne  in  mind  that  as  the  city  is 
rapidly  spreading  on  the  eastern  banks  of  the  Schuylkill  nothing 
but  the  narrow  stream  will  shortly  separate  the  western  establish- 
ment from  a  dense  population. 

"  Your  committee  would  now  call  your  attention  to  a  portion 
of  the  poor  whose  interests  in  this  particular  have  not  been  brought 
into  view,  and  to  whom  the  location  west  of  Schuylkill  will  be 
absolutely  important.  We  allude  to  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse, 
comprising  generally  persons  whose  constitutions,  from  various 
causes,  have  been  much  impaired,  for  which  reason  they  are 
dependent  on  the  public  bounty,  and  whose  cases  require  frequent 
medical  aid.  By  the  theory  of  our  law  we  are  to  suppose  that  the 
mass  of  persons  obtaining  regular  aid  will  be  found  within  the 
walls  of  the  Almshouse  and  this  will  be  strictly  so  after  the  neces- 
sary buildings  are  erected,  so  that  the  law  may  go  fully  into  effect. 
To  separate  the  Hospital  from  these  would  be  attended  with  incon- 
veniences far  more  onerous  and  insuperable  than  would  be  produc- 
tive of  benefit  to  the  poor  without. 

"  We  suggested  in   the  commencement  of  this  report  that  no 


96  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitalr. 

position  more  salubrious  could  have  been  obtained  within  the  range 
allowed  by  the  law  than  that  purchased  by  the  Commissioners. 
This  assertion  was  made  on  due  consideration,  and  with  the  know^- 
ledge  that  an  opinion  had  been  advanced  by  respectable  citizens 
that  this  site  would  of  necessity  be  unhealthy  from  its  contiguity 
to  the  Schuylkill.  The  winds  ordinarily  prevailing  in  summer  and 
autumn  are,  however,  supposed  to  protect  the  western  banks  of  all 
rivers  from  these  deleterious  exhalations,  which,  wafted  to  their 
eastern  shores,  are  the  source  of  disease,  and  popular  observation 
has  confirmed  this  theory  as  regards  the  Schuylkill,  or  rather  has 
established  the  fact  of  the  general  healthiness  of  its  western  shores, 
leaving  it  to  science  to  form  the  theory. 

"  Sea:sons  have  indeed  occurred  of  such  general  and  severe 
visitations  that  no  place,  however  reputed  for  its  health,  has  been 
exempted  from  the  approach  of  disease.  If  on  these  occasions  the 
country  west  of  the  Schuylkill  was  visited  with  sickness  in  common 
with  other  districts  reputed  to  be  healthy  much  more  did  it  abound 
in  that  portion  of  the  city  in  which  the  Hospital  would  be  located 
if  built  within  the  city  limits. 

"  Of  the  general  healthfulness  of  the  west  side  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill we  have  the  evidence  of  respectable  and  observing  persons  long 
resident  in  that  section.  Their  testimony  we  consider  as  superior 
to  all  theory,  and  we  have  similar  unequivocal  testimony  of  the 
salubrity  of  the  particular  site  purchased  by  the  Commissioners 
from  a  family  who  were  resident  upon  it  for  above  fifteen  years. 

"  We  now  arrive  at  objections  to  the  location  of  the  Hospital 
on  the  above  site,  of  a  character  different  from  those  which  have 
preceded,  in  not  having  relation  to  the  interests  of  the  poor,  but  to 
other  interests  which  it  is  supposed  are  entitled  to  attention  in  the 
decision  of  this  question.  A  Committee  of  the  Board  of  Physicians 
attached  to  this  institution,  in  a  report  under  date  March  29,  1829, 
represent  it  '  as  their  opinion,  and  that  of  their  colleagues,  that  the 
location  of  the  Hospital  out  of  town  would  be  in  the  highest  degree 
injurious  to  the  just  reputation  which  Philadelphia  enjoys  for  fur- 
nishing the  best  and  .most  copious  means  of  medical  instruction  in 
the   United  States,'   adding  as   their  '  belief  that  there   are  many 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  97 

pecuniary  interests  of  the  citizens  which  would  be  materially  affected 
by  a  measure  curtailing  the  means  of  medical  instruction.'  Sugges- 
tions emanating  from  so  respectable  a  source  are  entitled  to  pro- 
found attention,  and  such  your  Committee  have  endeavored  to 
bestow  upon  them.  In  approaching  the  objection  to  the  location 
implied  in  the  above  report  your  Committee  are  free  to  acknowledge 
that  Public  Hospitals  ought  to  be  tributaiy  to  the  advancement  of 
medical  science,  subject  to  the  reasonable  qualification  that  the 
benefit  of  the  sick  should  be  the  pririiary^  the  other  the  secondary 
purpose  of  these  institutions.  On  this  principle  the  Infirmary  of 
the  Almshouse  has  very  properly  contributed  to  the  promotion  of 
medical  science  in  the  following  particulars  : 

"  ist.  As  a  school  for  a  limited  number  of  resident  students, 
who,  after  a  term  of  six  months  duty  in  that  station,  perform,  dur- 
ing a  further  tour  of  six  months,  the  duty  of  physicians  in  the 
House,  subject  to  the  supervision  of  the  regular  attending  physi- 
cians of  the  establishment. 

"  2d.  As  furnishing  to  a  number  of  non-resident  students  the 
opportunity  of  witnessing  the  clinical  or  bedside  practice  of  the 
house,  thus  enabling  them  to  acquire,  by  direct  inspection  and 
observation,  a  practical  knowledge  of  diseases,  and,  with  the  aid  of 
such  remarks  and  directions  as  are  suggested  by  the  physician  on 
duty,  an  acquaintance  with  the  most  approved  manner  of  examining 
cases  and  applying  the  proper  remedies. 

"  In  the  first  of  these  particulars  the  Infirmary  has  been  emi- 
nently beneficial,  by  completing  annually  the  medical  education  of 
eight  physicians,  who,  instead  of  entering  into  the  professional 
world  with  the  theory  only  of  medicine  and  the  feelings  of  novitiates 
in  practice,  are  enabled  to  commence  their  public  career  with  all  the 
confidence  and  skill  which  constant  and  complicated  practice  during 
a  years'  residence  in  the  house  may  be  supposed  to  impart  to  them. 

"  We  understand  the  objections  of  the  Physicians  to  a  removal 
of  that  Hospital  out  of  town,  as  applying  in  no  respect  to  the  first 
of  these  propositions,  only  in  a  limited  degree  to  the  second,  but 
principally  to  the  third  of  the  series. 

''  Exhibitions  of  operative  surgery  which  do  not  occur  frequently 

7     J 


98  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

are  always  of  that  intersting  character  to  the  medical  student  that 
we  can  scarcel}^  believe  that  the  difference  of  a  few  squares  in  the 
location  of  the  Hospital  would,  present  any  obstacle  to  a  young 
man's  attendance  on  these  occasions. 

"  We  shall  therefore  proceed  to  the  third  particular,  in  consider- 
ing which  the  practice  which  has  obtained  of  bringing  the  sick  into 
the  operating  room  and  there  lecturing  on  their  diseases,  though 
not  included  in  the  limits  of  our  proposition,  must  necessarily  be 
brought  into  view. 

"  By  the  views  of  the  University  and  possibly  of  the  Jefferson 
College,  a  student,  in  order  to  graduate,  is  required  to  take  a  ticket 
to  attend  the  medical  practice,  either  of  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital 
or  Philadelphia  Almshouse.  One  hundred  and  eighty-five  tickets 
were  taken  last  year  to  attend  the  practice  of  this  Infirmary  and 
one  hundred  and  eighty-five  appear  to  have  been  taken  the  present 
year.  On  inquiry  we  find  that  the  number  who  attend  the  regular 
visitation  of  the  sick  during  eight  months  of  the  year  varies  from 
30  to  50,  while  during  the  period  of  lectures  the  most  interesting 
cases  being  brought  into  the  lecture  room,  attendance  in  the  wards 
is  not  usual.  The  number  attending  at  the  operating  room  during 
this  period  is  about  170  persons. 

"  The  number  of  persons  who  can  be  really  benefitted  by 
attending  the  practice  of  the  house  is  limited.  It  is  even  confined 
to  a  much  smaller  number  than  do  attend,  for  it  is  only  those  who 
can  approach  the  patients  and  observe  by  personal  inspection  and 
observation  the  symptoms  on  which  the  treatment  is  predicated 
who  can  derive  any  material  advantage  from  it.  This  number  is 
so  small,  compared  with  the  total  number  of  medical  students,  that 
a  removal  of  the  Infirmary  would  have  but  little  practical  effect  on 
the  medical  school  at  large. 

"  We  are  aware  that  in  a  suitable  building  such  an  arrange- 
ment of  the  patients  and  division  of  the  attending  medical  students 
might  be  made  as  would  render  an  attendance  on  the  practice  of 
the  house  more  extensively  useful,  but  it  is  to  the  present  con- 
dition and  usages  of  the  establishment  that  our  remarks  must  be 
applied. 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  99 

"  To  remedy  the  difficulty  which  presents  to  extensive  clinical 
instruction  in  the  wards,  a  practice  not  permitted  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Hospital,  has  gained  admission  into  this  institution.  We 
refer  to  the  usage  before  noticed,  of  holding  lectures  in  the  oper- 
ating room  upon  medical  cases  of  particular  interest,  the  patients 
being  brought  from  their  wards  into  the  lecture  room,  and  there 
detained  during  a  lecture  of  15  to  20  minutes.  But  except  that 
the  lecture  is  mside  more  imposing  by  the  subject  of  it  being  pres- 
ent, and  possibly  the  student's  attention  to  the  case  hQ.mg  fastened 
by  the  display,  we  know  of  no  benefit  which  can  accrue  from 
it  which  would  not  equally  result  from  the  case  being  lectured,  in 
the  absence  of  the  patient,  on  the  notes  of  the  phj^sician,  which 
form,  in  reality,  the  basis  of  the  lecture. 

"After  what  has  been  said  on  the  subject  in  which  benefit  is 
derived  from  clinical  instruction,  showing  the  necessity  of  a  near 
approach  to  the  patient,  the  total  inutility  of  bringing  into  the 
presence  of  one  or  two  hundred  students  any  case  of  disease,  except- 
ing a  surgical  one,  must  be  apparent.  An  image  of  the  patient 
would  be  just  as  efficient, 

"  Your  committee,  having  found  it  necessary  to  introduce  this 
practice  to  the  notice  of  the  Board,  feel  it  due  to  the  medical  gen- 
tlemen attached  to  the  institution  to  say  that  they  have  not  discov- 
ered that  many  instances  of  material  injury  to  the  patients  have 
resulted  from  it.  Great  care  has  been  taken  to  avoid  such  a  conse- 
quence ;  at  the  same  time  the  attendants  of  the  sick  speak  of  this 
display  as  a  source  of  anxiety  to  the  invalid  previous  to  the  lec- 
ture, and  your  committee  would  suggest  that,  particularly  to  the 
delicate  and  timid,  this  exposure  must  be  a  trial  of  no  small 
magnitude. 

"  Upon  the  whole,  your  committee  are  of  opinion  that  the 
advantages  which  have  accrued  to  the  medical  students  generally 
by  the  Almshouse  Infirmary  have  been  overestimated  in  any  esti- 
mate which  would  make  its  removal  '  Highly  injurious '  to  the 
Philadelphia  School.  We  consider  its  advantages  to  be  inestimable 
to  those  who  gain  admission  into  it  as  resident  students  and  physi- 
cians, and  we  believe  it  greatly  useful  to  those  who  can  avail  them- 


100  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

selves  of  an  acquaintance  with  its  surgical  and  medical  practice. 
Beyond  this,  the  medical  school  does  not  appear  to  be  benefitted. 

"  Let  the  institution,  however,  have  all  the  credit  for  useful- 
ness which,  for  the  purpose  of  this  argument,  its  medical  friends 
might  choose  to  assign  to  it,  we  do  not  perceive  how  its  removal 
*'  will  impair  the  reputation  which  Philadelphia  now  enjoys  for 
furnishing  the  best  medical  school  in  the  United  States."  It  is  true 
the  circumstance  of  its  location  being  a  few  squares  different  from 
its  present  one  may  occasion  some  inconvenience  to  the  attending 
students.  This  inconvenience,  however,  is  susceptible,  as  we  shall 
show,  of  some  remedy ;  while  it  is  greatly  overbalanced  by  the 
advantages  which  will  be  presented  by  an  Infirmary  erected  on  a 
plan  combining  all  the  modern  improvements  which  science  and 
art  have  suggested  as  promotive  of  the  health,  comfort  and  conve- 
nience of  its  inmates. 

"  So  far,  then,  from  the  effect  predicted  being  the  result,  the 
coiiverse  of  it  must  ensue  from  the  removal  to  an  establishment 
constructed  with  particular  reference  to  a  classification  of  the  sick, 
so  important  to  their  proper  treatment ;  and  with  such  an  arrange- 
ment of  its  rooms  that,  by  a  suitable  division  of  the  attending  stu- 
dents into  classes,  assigning  to  each  class  a  ward,  practical  clinical 
instruction  may  be  imparted  to  upwards  of  two  hundred  pupils  in 
each  day's  course  of  visitation,  without  injury  to  the  sick. 

"  The  inconvenience  of  the  attending  students  resulting  from 
the  greater  distance  of  the  Almshouse  would  find,  it  is  believed,  a 
natural  remedy  in  the  selection  which  medical  students  desirous  of 
attending  the  Almshouse  practice  would  make  in  their  boarding- 
houses,  so  as  to  fix  them  between  the  Almshouse  and  university  or 
college.  Another  remedy  is  found  in  the  facility  and  cheapness 
with  which  conveyance  by  carriages  or  stages  can  be  obtained.  We 
have  stages  running  which  convey  an  individual  to  Frankford  or 
Germantown  for  twenty-five  cents,  or  about  five  cents  per  mile,  and 
we  have  only  to  create  a  demand  for  such  a  conveyance  to  the 
Almshouse  and  it  will  be  readily  afforded  at  a  reasonable  rate. 

"  Suppose,  however,  that  medical  instruction  to  non-resident 
pupils  was  totally  to  cease  at   the  Almshouse  Infirmary  in  conse- 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  101 

quence  of  its  removal.  In  such  event,  by  no  means  probable,  the 
income  of  this  institution  would  be  diminished  $2,000  per  annum  ; 
which,  taken  from  the  statement  made  in  an  early  part  of  this 
report  of  the  extra  annual  cost  of  a  city  hospital,  would  still  leave 
a  large  balance  in  favor  of  the  country  location. 

"  But  what  other  interests  would  be  affected  by  it  ?  The  Penn- 
sylvania Hospital  would  gain  the  sale  of  additional  tickets ;  the 
private  schools  of  instruction  would  also  be  possible  gainers.  Phil- 
adelphia has  these  decided  advantages  for  medical  improvement 
that  the  withdrawal  of  the  Almshouse  Infirmary  from  the  system 
would  only  brighten  the  other  institutions.  The  remaining  means 
of  instruction  are  so  various  that  no  other  city  can  boast  an  equal- 
ity of  advantages,  and  to  the  existing  opportunities  for  professional 
observation  a  United  States  Marine  Asylum  is  to  be  added. 

"A  conclusive  argument  in  favor  of  the  foregoing  reasoning  is 
to  be  found  in  the  fact  that  the  number  of  students  who  attended 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  previous  to  the  Almshouse  being 
made  a  school  for  clinical  instruction  was  even  greater  than  have 
attended  at  any  period  since ;  thus  showing  that  admission  to  the 
practice  of  the  house  has  had  no  effect  whatever  to  increase  the 
number  of  students  coming  to  this  city  for  medical  instruction. 

"  We  see,  therefore,  that  no  pecuniary  interests  are  likely  to 
suffer  by  the  location  of  the  hospital  west  of  the  Schuylkill.  On 
the  contrary,  in  looking  forward  to  the  period,  by  no  means  remote, 
when  our  city  plot  will  be  generally  filled  by  buildings  for  com- 
merce or  residence,  the  existence  of  a  large  infirmary  within  the 
city  for  diseases  of  a  promiscuous  character  would  be  received  with 
great  distrust,  as  a  source  whence  disease  and  pestilence  might 
possibly  arise.  Whether  such  fears  would  be  chimerical  is  not  for 
us  to  pronounce.  They  would  most  certainly  exist,  and  would 
derogate  much  from  the  value  of  all  property  in  its  vicinity, 
besides  impairing  the  general  confidence  in  the  purity  of  an  atmos- 
phere which  is  now  inviting  citizens  of  wealth  and  enterprise  from 
all  parts  of  our  Union  to  a  residence  among  us.  From  the  opera- 
tion of  such  fears,  combined  with  the  inducements  which  may  arise 
to   dispose   of    the    city    possessions,  resulting  either   from   their 


102  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

increased  value  or  a  desire  to  diminish  the  public  burdens,  your 
committee  have  no  hesitation  in  believing  that  half  a  century- 
would  not  elapse  ere  another  removal  would  be  demanded  and 
accomplished. 

"  For  all  the  reasons  above  assigned,  your  committee  are  of 
opinion  that  the  proper  site  for  erecting  a  hospital  is  that  already 
provided  by  the  Commissioners. 

"  Which  is  respectfully  submitted." 

The  report  was  signed  by  Messrs.  A.  L.  Pennock,  Thomas 
Rogers,  Thomas  Earp,  John  Keppler,  Jr.,  Michael  Day  and  L. 
Paynter. 

These  gentlemen  were  not  of  the  kind  to  jump  at  conclusions  ; 
they  considered  every  suggestion  carefully,  and  thus  formed  their 
opinions.  They  believed  that  the  public  supported  the  institution 
for  the  care,  treatment  and  cure,  if  possible,  of  the  poor  unfortu- 
nates under  charge,  and  that  medical  instruction  was  secondary  to 
that  grand  object.  They  were  deep  thinkers  ;  their  conclusions 
were  not  influenced  by  glittering  generalities,  but  were  based  on 
what  they  regarded  as  facts,  "  cold,  stubborn  facts." 

After  a  lapse  of  seventy  years  it  is  interesting  to  note  how 
their  predictions  have  been  verified.  The  section  of  the  city  in 
which  the  institution  was  located  is  now  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous, and  there  are,  probably,  more  houses  west  of  the  Schuylkill 
River  than  were  in  the  entire  city  at  that  time. 

That  report  settled  the  question  ;  the  Hospital  was  erected  on 
the  Almshouse  site  and  is  one  of  the  departments  of  that  great 
establishment. 

Its  reputation  is  world-wide  and  of  the  best ;  medical  books 
are  full  of  descriptions  of  cases  treated  in  the  Philadelphia  Hos- 
pital— Blockley,  as  it  is  familiarly  called — and  many  physicians 
have  found  it  to  be  the  stepping-stone  to  high  honors  in  their  pro- 
fession. 


M 


CHAPTER  IX. 

CORNER-STONE  OF  NEW  ALMSHOUvSE  LAID. 

ESSRS.  WILLIAM  BOYD  and  Charles   Johnson,  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Commissioners,  tendered  their  resig- 
nations,  and   Messrs.    A.   Cuthbert  and  J.  W.    Linnard 
were  elected  by  the  Select  and  Common  Councils  to  fill 
the  vacancies.     The  Commissioners  elected  Mr.  D.  Groves  as  their 
President. 

The  entire  lack  of  discipline  and  the  incompetency  of  the 
Steward  of  the  House  is  shown  by  a  report  of  the  committee,  which 
stated : 

"  The  Committee  of  the  House  have  been  under  the  necessity 
of  inquiring  into  the  circumstances  of  an  alarming  and  disagree- 
able quarrel  which  occurred  at  the  Steward's  table  on  the  5th  inst., 
and,  in  the  prosecution  of  the  inquiry,  have  discovered  other 
instances  of  disorder,  all  of  which  they  deem  it  proper  to  exhibit  in 
the  following  report. 

"  '  About  three  months  since  an  affray  took  place  at  the  table 
between  some  of  the  physicians  and  Mr.  Hutchinson,  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  manufactory,  in  consequence  of  the  observation  of 
Dr.  Mott,  in  relation  to  Free  Masonry,  which  Mr.  Hutchinson 
took  up  as  a  designed  affront  to  himself,  though  no  such  design 
appeared.  Some  high  words  ensued.  The  contents  of  a  tumbler 
were  thrown  in  the  face  of  Mr.  Hutchinson,  and  he  was  forcibly 
expelled  from  the  room  by  the  others.  This  altercation  became 
the  subject  of  a  legal  inquiry,  and  the  persons  by  whom  the  assault 
on  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  committed  were  subjected  to  a  very  mod- 
erate fine  for  the  offence,  which  the  Recorder  considered  was  much 
mitigated  by  the  manner  and  conduct  of  the  individual  assailed.' 

"The  Guardians,  to  whom  this  altercation  was  known, 
hoped  that  with  the  decision  of  the  Court  would  have  terminated 
all  controversy,  and  no  order  was  taken  upon  the  affair  by  them. 
It  appears,  however,  that  in  a  single  instance,  subsequent  to  the 

10.3 


104  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

trial,  Mr.  Hutchinson  improperly  remarked  at  table  that  he  had 
heard  the  doctors  were  unable  to  raise  the  money  to  pay  their  costs, 
while  very  frequent  occasions  have  been  sought  by  the  other  side 
to  irritate  his  feelings  by  using  idle  and  indecorous  speeches  hav- 
ing allusion  to  him.  Dr.  Jones,  one  of  the  resident  physicians, 
admits  that  fact,  and  that  he  has  frequently  made  remarks  with 
respect  to  Mr.  Hutchinson,  with  a  view  to  compel  his  absence  from 
the  table,  and  he  justifies  this  by  referring  to  a  communication 
which  the  physicians  submitted  to  the  Board  on  the  subject  of 
Mr.  Hutchinson's  presence  at  the  table,  but  on  which  no  order  was 
taken  by  the  Board.  Dr.  Hunt,  the  prominent  party  in  the  recent 
quarrel,  admits  also  that  since  the  remark  was  made  by  Mr. 
Hutchinson  regarding  their  not  being  able  to  pay  the  costs  he 
has  assailed  him  hiiiiself,  and  taken  frequent  opportunities  to 
satirize  him. 

"  All  the  testimony  received  evinces  that,  prior  to  the  first 
affray,  and  subsequent  to  it,  with  the  exception  of  the  remark  we 
have  noticed,  the  conduct  of  Mr.  Hutchinson  was  decorous  and 
unexceptionable,  while  the  persevering  remarks  and  taunts  of  the 
physicians  above  named  were  annoying  in  the  extreme,  and  to 
have  resisted  the  feelings  they  were  bound  to  excite,  must  have 
called  for  much  self-command  on  the  part  of  Mr.  Hutchinson. 

"  Thus  goaded,  Mr.  Hutchinson  expressed  to  some  individual 
a  determination  to  chastise  Dr.  Hunt  should  the  latter  persevere 
in  taunting  him  at  the  table.  Shortly  afterwards  Dr.  Hunt  heard 
of  the  declaration,  and,  on  the  5th  inst.,  at  the  dinner  table, 
renewed  his  attack  upon  Mr.  Hutchinson,  first  saying,  in  relation 
to  a  celery  glass,  that  it  would  make  a  good  hog-trough,  the  term 
hog  being  understood,  by  previous  inuendos,  to  designate  Mr. 
Hutchinson.  The  doctor  then  inquired  of  Mr.  Stockton,  the 
Steward,  whether  he  had  heard  of  any  threats  of  vengeance  declared 
against  him,  adding  that  he  feared  no  threats  uttered  behind  his 
back  ;  none  but  cowards  made  such  threats  and  they  did  not  exe- 
cute them.  Mr.  Hutchinson  now  replied  that  these  remarks  were 
made  for  him ;  that  he  would  no  longer  bear  them,  and  that  if  Dr. 
Hunt  persevered  he  would  thrash  him  and  give  him  a  pair  of  black 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  105 

eyes,  accompanying  the  threat,  it  is  alleged,  with  profane  language. 
Dr.  Hunt  now  seized  a  tumbler  and  projected  it  at  the  head  of  Mr. 
Hutchinson  with  a  force  that  would  have  resulted  in  incalculable 
injury  had  it  struck  the  intended  mark.  Mr.  Hutchinson,  seizing 
another  tumbler,  hurled  it  at  his  assailant,  after  which  missiles  of  a 
similar  nature  were  thrown  by  Dr.  Hunt.  The  doctor  was  about 
to  seize  a  poker  from  the  fireside  when  he  was  arrested  through  the 
interference  of  the  family. 

"  The  Committee  omits  all  comment  upon  the  scene,  but  it  is 
due  to  Mr.  Hutchinson  to  add,  in  relation  to  the  alleged  profanity 
of  his  language,  that  the  testimony  is,  he  is  not  in  the  habit  of 
using  profane  language,  which  is,  unfortunately  too  much  used  by 
the  individuals  making  the  allegation." 

"  On  the  last  '  Board  night '  all  the  physicians  absented  them- 
selves from  the  Steward's  table.  It  appears  to  be  the  practice  of 
the  House  to  furnish  the  physicians  with  luncheon  at  ii  o'clock 
and  supper  at  nine.  On  this  particular  evening  Dr.  Clarke,  taking 
a  plate  from  a  servant,  declared,  without  examining  it,  that  the  meat 
was  spoiled.  He  then  placed  the  meat  on  the  floor,  near  the 
threshold  of  the  door,  when  Dr.  Jones  kicked  it  several  yards  into 
the  passage. 

"  On  the  next  day  a  piece  of  meat  was  served  in  the  same 
manner  by  Dr.  Hunt,  whose  excuse  was  that  he  suspected  the  meat 
was  the  same  that  was  kicked  over  the  floor  on  the  preceeding  day. 

"  It  is  proper  to  add  that  the  allegation  of  Dr.  Clarke  of  the 
meat  being  bad  is  without  the  shadow  of  a  foundation,  and  the  tes- 
timony is  that  Mrs.  Piersol,  who  has  charge  of  the  table,  is  very 
ambitious  to  have  everything  very  nice  in  relation  to  it." 

The  physicians  complained  of  were  very  young  men,  and  the 
Board  took  that  into  consideration ;  and,  while  some  of  the  mem- 
bers were  in  favor  of  dismissing  them,  it  was  deemed  to  be  sufficient 
punishment  to  reprimand  them,  and  "  they  were  warned  that  their 
continuance  in  the  institution  depended  upon  their  conducting 
themselves  in  a  more  decorous  manner."  There  does  not  appear 
on  the  records  anything  to  show  that  the  incompetent  official  in 
charge  was  dismissed  or  even  reprimanded  for  allowing  such  dis- 


106  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

graceful  conduct  to  continue  to  bring  its  mismanagement  so  prom- 
inently before  the  community. 

The  indiscriminate  distribution  of  out-door  relief  had  grown  to 
such  alarming  proportions  ;  such  a  long  list  of  pensioners,  as  they 
were  termed,  being  supplied  with  money,  as  well  as  provisions, 
etc.  ;  the  cost  had  arrived  at  such  figures ;  and,  the  abuses  of 
the  system  had  become  so  glaring  that  a  general  demand  was  made 
to  stop,  or  at  least,  check  it. 

An  act  was  passed  by  the  Legislature,  in  compliance  with  the 
request  of  the  Guardians. 

At  the  next  session  a  bill  was  introduced  to  repeal  that  act. 
The  Guardians  obtained  information  of  the  proposed  action  and 
sent  the  following  memorial,  which  received  the  full  vote  of  the 
members  of  the  Board  : 

"  To  the  Honorable  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General  Assembly  met. 

''  The  memorial  of  the  '  Guardians  for  the  Relief  and  Em- 
ployment of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  the  District  of 
South wark  and  the  Townships  of  Northern  Liberties  and  Penn,' 
respectfully  sheweth. 

"  That  your  memorialists  have  seen  with  deep  regret  a  Bill  No. 
8 1,  on  the  Senate  files,  which  proposes  to  change  in  very  material 
features  the  existing  system  for  the  management  of  the  Poor  in 
this  District  and  your  memorialists  beg  leave  most  respectfully  to 
state  their  entire  dissent  from  all  the  features  of  that  Bill. 

"  It  must  be  in  the  recollection  of  many  of  the  members  of 
5^our  Honorable  Bodies  that  the  system  now  in  progress  was 
adopted  upon  the  earnest  demand  of  the  people  of  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia and  the  adjoining  Districts  and  Townships,  it  was  called 
for  by  them  loudly ;  they  complained,  and  had  long  complained  of 
abuses  resulting  from  the  former  system.  They  at  last  rose  in 
their  Primary  Assemblies  in  Town  Meeting  and  declared  by  accla- 
mation that  their  grievances  must  be  redressed.  They  referred  the 
subject  to  intelligent  and  experienced  men  from  the  City  and 
County.  The  plan  which  these  men,  after  long  and  anxious  reflec- 
tion proposed  was  hailed  with  universal  approval,  it  was  submitted 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  107 

to  and  approved  of  by  the  Councils  of  the  City,  by  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  of  the  Northern  Liberties,  of  Southwark,  of  Ken- 
sington and  of  Penn  Township  and  by  the  former  Board  of  Guard- 
ians, consisting  of  fifty  citizens  from  all  parts  of  the  District.  It 
was  presented  to  your  Honorable  Bodies  supported  by  numerous 
memorials  in  its  favor.  It  was  at  your  last  session  fully  examined, 
debated  and  finally  adopted  and  passed  into  a  Law,  and  is  now  in 
the  progress  of  execution  and  experiment.  What,  then,  your 
memorialists  would  ask,  can  have  occurred  to  render  an  interfer- 
ence with  this  Law  necessary  ;  before  its  operation  has  been  tested, 
before  its  principles  have  had  an  opportunity  to  unfold  their  results  ? 
Does  the  public  voice  call  for  this  interference  ?  Your  memorial- 
ists have  not  understood  that  it  does  ?  on  the  contrary  they  believe 
the  feelings  and  wishes  of  the  community  to  be  all  enlisted  in 
favor  of  the  act  now  in  force.  They  cannot  believe  otherwise  with- 
out imputing  fickleness  of  sentiment  to  that  public,  who  are  equally 
the  constituents  of  your  memorialists  and  of  the  members  of  your 
Honorable  Bodies. 

"  Your  memorialists  beg  leave  to  remind  you  that  one  great 
subject  of  general  complaint  was,  what  is  generally  called  the  out- 
door system  of  relief  the  practical  operation  of  which  was  the  estab- 
lishment of  a  regular  and  constantly  increasing  '  List  of  Pension- 
ers,' who  fed  upon  the  public  purse  without  check  or  control  and 
demanded  as  a  right,  and  received  as  a  right  the  produce  of  the 
labours  of  the  industrious  classes.  There  was  no  end  or  limit  to 
this  evil,  it  had  attained  an  alarming  magnitude.  To  arrest  its 
course  required  the  strong  arm  of  the  Law ;  it  was  interposed  and 
the  evil  has  been  stayed,  and  the  people  were  thankful. 

"  Yet  the  first  section  of  the  Bill  against  which  we  remon- 
strate is  intended  once  more  to  launch  against  us  this  engine  of 
destruction.  Your  memoralists  pray  your  Honorable  Bodies  to 
recur  to  the  Petitions  of  the  last  sessions  and  to  adhere  to  the  course 
of  policy  then  adopted  and  predicated  upon  those  petitions.  They 
beg  leave  to  suggest  that  the  Law,  as  it  now  stands,  permits  te7n- 
porary  relief  to  the  sufferer  in  his  family,  but  to  be  administered 
in   food,   clothing,  fuel,    medicines    and    all    the    necessaries    and 


108  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

comforts  of  life,  while   it  forbids   the  baneful  grant  of  pecuniary 
Pensions. 

"  Your  memorialists  are  also  averse  to  that  part  of  the  Bill 
which  compels  them  to  erect  a  Hospital  within  the  bounds  of  the 
city.  Allow  them  to  ask  why  tJiey  should  not  be  entrusted  with 
this  question.  Are  not  your  memorialists  like  yourselves  elected 
to  discharge  the  duties  belonging  to  their  station  ?  Are  they  not 
responsible  for  the  violation  of  these  duties  ?  Do  they  not  act 
under  the  sanction  of  a  sacred  obligation,  are  they  not  members  of 
the  community  most  interested  in  the  matter  under  discussion  ? 
Do  they  not  themselves  contribute  by  payment  of  Taxes,  to  the 
creation  of  the  fund  ?  Why,  then,  shall  they  not  be  permitted 
to  exercise  the  functions  thus  cast  upon  them,  and  in  which  they 
have  so  deep  an  interest  ?  Why  must  your  Honorable  Bodies  be 
appealed  to,  to  superintend,  check,  control  and  pass  upon  each  and 
all  their  acts  ? 

"  If  the  people  call  for  your  interference,  your  memorialists 
admit  the  case  for  interference  would  then  arise,  but  while  they 
are  not  dissatisfied,  your  memorialists  submit  that  such  intervention 
would  be  equally  unjust  to  them  and  burdensome  to  you. 

"  Again  it  can  only  require  to  be  mentioned,  it  need  not  be 
insisted  upon,  that  the  establishment  of  a  Hospital  at  a  dis- 
tance from  the  Almshouse  would  be  for  many  reasons  impolitic 
and  imprudent ;  cruel  to  the  tenants  of  the  latter  place,  and  by 
the  process  of  removal  and  its  consequences  fatal  to  Individuals 
and  offensive  in  cases,  perhaps  dangerous,  to  the  public.  An 
establishment  for  the  reception  of  those  who  may  suffer  from 
sudden  accident,  or  from  illness  which  cannot  be  properly  attended 
to  in  their  families  may  become  desirable  at  a  future  period  within 
the  city,  and  will  then  be  erected ;  but  your  memorialists  respect- 
fully submit  that  the  people  of  this  District,  and  the  public  bodies 
of  this  section  of  the  State  are  competent  to  Judge  of  the  proper 
time  and  occasion  for  such  an  erection.  At  this  moment  it  would 
be  burdensome,  expensive  and  inconvenient. 

"  Allow  your  memorialists  also  to  respectfully  ask  whether 
they  are  not  entitled  to  Judge  of  the  Rides  which  should  govern 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  109 

their  mode  of  transacting  their  own  business  ?  Must  they  be 
driven  on  all  occasions  to  recur  for  assent  and  approbation  to  other 
authorities,  to  Judges  and  Attornies-General  ?  What  other  corpora- 
tion is  so  restricted  ?  Why  are  not  the  members  of  this  Body  to 
be  entrusted  with  their  own  government?  Will  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, the  District  of  Southwark,  the  Townships  of  the  Northern 
Liberties  and  Penn — will  they  depute  men  to  the  performance  of 
this  trust  who  are  not  worthy  to  be  permitted  to  enact  their  own 
rules  ?  Do  not  the  principles  of  our  government  forbid  this 
supposition  ? 

"  And  allow  us  to  ask,  can  the  authorities  referred  to  in  Section 
3  be  competent  Judges  of  the  necessity,  or  of  the  mode  of  operation 
of  these  rules  ?  Can  any  Body  of  them  except  those  who  witness 
their  effects  ? 

"  In  conclusion,  your  memorialists  respectfully  pray  that  they 
may  be  allowed,  without  change  or  alteration  of  any  kind,  at  least 
to  give  a  fair  experiment  to  the  system  now  in  operation,  demanded. 
as  it  was  by  the  acclamation  of  the  community  and  granted  by  you 
in  consequence  of  the  acclamations,  which  hardly  yet  ceased  to 
resound  through  your  Halls. 

"  With  these  observations,  your  memorialists  most  respectfully 
remonstrate  against  the  passage  of  any  Bill  which  may  change  the 
existing  Laws  for  the  relief  and  employment  of  the  Poor  in  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  the  district  of  Southwark  and  the  townships  of 
the  Northern  Liberties  and  Penn. 

"  By  order  of  the  Board. 

"  Thomas  P.  Cope,  President, 

"  Attest :  George  Heyl,  Secretary P 

It  was  thought  at  the  time  that  the  parties  who  were  instru- 
mental in  having  the  bill  introduced  were  interested  in  having  the 
hospital  built  where  it  would  be  more  convenient  for  them,  and  as 
it  was  generally  known  that  the  Board  of  Guardians  had  decided 
upon  its  location,  this  measure  was  intended  to  frustrate  their 
plans.  If  such  was  the  fact,  the  scheme  miscarried,  the  memorial 
had  the  desired  effect  and  the  Bill  was  not  passed. 


110  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  Commissioners  for  erecting  the  buildings  were  anxious 
to  employ  the  architect  to  superintend  the  building  of  them.  Mr. 
Strickland  was  a  very  busy  man,  and  it  was  deemed  advisable  to 
communicate  with  him,  and,  if  possible,  secure  his  services. 

In  reply  to  their  communication,  they  received  the  following : 

"  PhiIvAdelphia,  October  25th,  1829. 

^^StJ^ :  As  it  will  be  entirely  out  of  my  power  to  give  my 
exclusive  attention  as  architect  to  the  building  of  the  new  Alms- 
house, and  as  I  can  only  devote  that  time  which  may  be  unem- 
ployed under  my  present  engagements,  I  take  the  liberty  of  pro- 
posing for  your  consideration  the  following  terms  upon  which  I 
can  agree  to  superintend  the  Building  :  To  make  all  the  drawings 
necessary  for  the  workmen  and  to  give  the  building  generally 
a  proper  attention  whenever  my  other  duties  will  permit,  for  the 
sum  of  $800  per  annum. 

Should    this   proposition    meet   with   your   approval,  I  shall  be 
happy  to  serve  you. 

With  great  respect  I  am,  sir. 

Your  obed't  serv't, 

"  William  Strickland." 

The  terms  were  accepted,  and  it  was  ordered  that  the  salary 
should  be  started  at  once. 

Mr.  Tracy  Taylor,  commissioner  for  erecting  buildings,  ten- 
dered his  resignation,  and  Mr.  P.  Deal,  Jr.,  was  elected  by  the  com- 
missioners of  the  Kensington  district  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Several  conferences  \vere  held  by  the  committees  representing 
the  two  Boards,  to  endeavor  to  agree  upon  the  plans  for  the  build- 
ings. The  architect  was  called  into  these  consultations,  and,  on 
January  nth,  1830,  the  committee  representing  the  Board  of 
Guardians  reported  to  that  body  that  they  had  agreed  upon  the 
plans,  which  were  submitted  for  approval. 

"  The  plans  were  approved  and  the  committee  was  instructed 
to  wait  upon  the  Commissioners  and  to  verbally  give  their  assent 
to  the  plans  submitted." 


Plistory  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  Ill 

It  was  now  thoiight  that  everything  had  been  arranged  sat- 
isfactorily to  all  parties,  and  the  work  of  erecting  the  buildings 
could  be  started. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  advertise  for  proposals  for  the 
material  that  may  ba  wanted  to  construct  the  walls,  etc. 

It  was  ''Resolved,  that  in  the  erection  of  the  buildings  the 
stone  work  be  done  by  the  perch,  mason's  measure,  except  the 
dressed  stone  which  shall  be  set  by  the  superficial  foot,  measureing 
the  face  only.  The  bricks  shall  be  laid  by  the  thousand,  including 
jobbing  and  other  extra  Avork.  The  carpenter  work,  as  far  as 
practicable,  shall  be  done  by  measurement." 

Proposals  having  been  received,  in  compliance  witb  advertise- 
ments, contracts  were  awarded  :  To  Lane  Scof&eld  for  foundations, 
cellars,  etc.,  at  the  rate  of  14  cents  per  cubic  yard ;  to  J.  and  J. 
Snyder,  and  others,  for  1,300,000  bricks  at  $6.37^  per  thousand  ; 
to  Samuel  Davis  and  Jon'a  Wentz  for  80,000  bushels  of  lime  at  21 
cents  per  bushel;  to  Lehigh  Co.  for  60,000  feet  2^-incli  plank  at 
$10.00  per  M.,  and  300  poles,  not  less  than  40  feet,  at  $1.40  eacb ; 
to  Hugh  Scott  for  20,000  feet  of  chiseled  dressed  stone  at  60  cents 
per  foot,  and  to  Robert  P.  Crosby  for  11,000  perch  of  building  stone 
at  $1.05  per  perch,  measured  in  the  wall. 

It  was  agreed  to  divide  the  mason's  work  into  two,  and  the 
carpenter's  work  into  five  parts. 

The  Commissioners  elected  Messrs.  Corlies  &  Cowperthwaite 
and  Thomas  Eastlack  as  masons,  and  George  Senneff,  John  Bishop, 
H.  L.  Coryll,  John  Gilder  and  G.  R.  Harmstead  as  carpenters. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  Center  Building,  Almshouse,  be  denom- 
inated No.  I  and  assigned  to  H.  L.  Coryll ;  northeast  wing.  No.  2  ,to 
G.  R.  Harmstead;  southwest  wing.  No,  3,  to  John  Bishop;  Hospi- 
tal, southeast  wing,  No.  4,  to  George  Senneff;  and  northwest  wing 
No.  5,  to  John  Gilder,  and,  that  all  of  the  general  jobbing  work 
required  previous  to  the  commencement  of  the  new  buildings  be 
given  to  George  Senneff,  under  the  direction  of  the  architect.  Mr. 
Harmstead  declined  and  P.  Deal  &  Co.  were  elected  in  his  stead. 
Mr.  W.  Govett  was  elected  Superintendent.  On  motion  of  Mr. 
W.  Wagner  "the  Superintendent  was  authorized  to  purchase  three 


112  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

rafts  of  white  pine  boards,  30,000  feet  sap  boards  and  one  raft  of 
oak  scantling,  and  that  W.  Wagner  and  G.  B.  Baker  be  a  commit- 
tee to  direct  and  advise  him  in  said  purchase,  and  that  an  order  be 
drawn  in  favor  of  W.  Wagner  for  $1,000  to  pay  the  bill." 

Mr.  D.  Groves,  President  of  the  Commissioners,  resigned,  and 
Mr.  W.  Wagner  M^as  elected  in  his  stead.  The  Board  selected 
K.  W.  Keyser,  Esq.,  as  President  of  their  body. 

Another  change  in  the  plans  was  called  for.  The  Superin- 
tendent of  the  New  York  Almshouse,  Mr.  Arthur  Burtis,  had  sent 
several  letters  to  the  Board  of  Guardians  relative  to  separate  dor- 
mitories. These  were  transmitted  to  the  Commissioners  "  with 
information  that  this  Board  will  cheerfully  concur  in  any  modifica- 
tion of  the  plan  adopted  for  the  new  Almshouse,  which,  on  con- 
sideration, may  be  found  necessary,  useful  and  expedient." 

The  architect  subsequently  reported  "  that  he  had  accommo- 
dated the  plans  of  the  new  buildings,  as  far  as  regards  separate 
dormitories,  to  meet  the  views  of  the  Board  of  Guardians." 

B.  W.  Keyser,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Board  of  Commissioners, 
laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Almshouse  on  May  26,  1830.  He 
delivered  an  appropriate  address,  which  was  listened  to  with  much 
interest  by  those  present.  The  ceremonies  were  witnessed  by 
Messrs.  Moore,  Wagner,  Deal,  McGlinsey  and  Bunker,  of  the 
Board  of  Commissioners,  nearly  all  of  the  members  of  the  Board  of 
Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and  a  number  of  other  persons. 

Although  the  Board  of  Guardians  had  approved  the  plans  that 
had  been  adopted  for  the  buildings,  it  soon  became  apparent  that 
the  members  were  not  satisfied.  There  was  a  constant  friction 
between  the  two  Boards.  Whenever  the  Guardians  thought  that 
they  were  not  entirely  pleased,  and  that  seemed  to  occur  very  fre- 
quently, they  wanted  to  stop  all  proceedings.  This,  of  course,  was 
very  annoying  to  the  Commissioners,  and  led  to  loss  on  the  part  of 
the  workmen.  Contracts  were  made  in  accordance  with  plans  that 
had  been  adopted,  and  when  the  work  was  partly  done  the  Guard- 
ians managed  to  discover  that  it  was  not  what  was  wanted,  and 
called  for  a  change.  This  interfered  very  materiall}^  with  the 
progress  of  the  work  and  added  to  the  cost. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  113 

Instead  of  working  together  harmoniously  the  two  Boards 
drifted  apart.  The  Guardians  adopted  the  following :  "  Whereas 
it  is  highly  important  to  the  welfare  of  the  Poor  and  to  the  inter- 
ests of  the  public  that  the  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
former  should  be  erected  on  such  plans  as  shall  combine  comfort 
and  economy  ;  and  Whereas,  this  Board  (to  which  the  Law  has 
given  an  approval  of  the  plan)  is  not  satisfied  with  the  arrange- 
ments of  the  Buildings  as  now  progressing,  and  feels  assured  that 
a  little  delay  will  result  in  harmony  and  in  the  adoption  of  a  more 
perfect  plan  ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  unanimously,  that  the  Board  of  Commissioners 
be  respectfully  requested  to  arrest  the  progress  of  the  buildings 
until  such,  period  as  the  committees  of  conference  in  joint  meet- 
ing may  deem  advisable. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Committee  of  Conference  be  instructed  to 
wait  on  the  Commissioners  and  submit  to  their  consideration  the 
plans  for  separate  dormitories  now  before  this  Board. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  said  committee  be  instructed  to  suggest 
to  the  Board  of  Commissioners  the  necessity  of  constructing  the 
walls  of  the  Buildings  in  such  manner  as  to  admit  the  most 
approved  mode  of  cleaning  and  ventilating  the  apartments. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Committee  of  Conference  be  instructed 
to  meet  the  committee  appointed  by  the  Board  of  Commissioners  at 
stated  periods  in  order  that  the  state  of  the  Buildings  from  time  to 
time  may  be  known,  and  that  the  interior  arrangements  may  be  so 
found  as  will  best  answer  the  purposes  for  which  the  buildings  are 
designed.'' 

Messrs.  Isaac  Roach  and  J.  W.  Linnard  resigned,  and  tbe  Select 
and  Common  Councils  elected  Messrs.  John  W.  Fraley  and  John 
Moss  to  fill  the  vacancies.  The  friction  regarding  the  plans  caused 
a  cessation  of  the  work,  and  the  changing  of  some  of  the  interior 
called  forth  a  letter  from  Corlies  &  Cowperthwaite,  contractors, 
in  which  they  said:  "The  change  in  the  plan  of  the  Building 
makes  a  very  material  difference  to  us  in  executing  the  work,  in 
addition  to  which  we  have  been  obliged  to  stop  and  discharge  all 
hands  for  one   week  ;  this   has   occasioned   considerable  loss    and 


114  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

inconvenience,  besides  being  idle  for  a  week.  Three  or  four  weeks 
before  we  had  no  chance  to  push  the  job,  for  reasons  you  are 
doubtless  acquainted  with.  Under  these  circumstances  we  confi- 
dently expect  that  you  will  not  hesitate  to  make  good  the  contract 
by  paying  us  the  difference  in  building  the  dormitories ;  to  be  • 
assessed  by  two  persons  to  be  appointed  by  the  parties.  The 
alterations,  such  as  taking  down  and  re-building,  to  be  measured 
and  valued." 

Mr.  George  N.  Baker  resigned,  and  Mr.  Edward  Shotwell  was 
elected  Commissioner  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

The  Commissioners  concluded  to  purchase  some  materials 
without  advertising  for  bids,  as  the  minutes  show  :  "  The  Building 
Committee  are  authorized  to  purchase  loo.ooo  ft.  oak  plank  on 
the  best  terms  they  can,  not  exceeding  $10.00  per  M.;  the  commit- 
tee are  authorized  to  purchase  nails,  &c.,  on  the  best  terms,  &c." 

Philip  Rayboldwas  awarded  a  contract  November  ist,  1830, 
for  1,500,000  bricks  at  $6.00  per  M.  Contracts  were  also  awarded 
for  stone,  lumber,  &c.,  as  the  work  progressed. 


CHAPTER  X. 

EPIDEMIC  OF   CHOLERA,  1S32— SERVICES  OF  SISTERS  OF  CHARITY. 
^T~^HK  Select  and  Common  Councils  sent  a  communication  to 


the  Commissioners  Januar}^  i6tli,  1832,  requesting  informa- 
tion as  to  the  amount  expended  and  likely  to  be  required  to 
complete  the  contemplated  buildings.     In  reply  thereto  the 
following  statement  was  transmitted  : 


Cost  of  Farm  containing  about  188  acres ^^i  716  94 

Present  cost  of  the  two  buildings,  each  500  ft.  in  front  by  65  ft.  deep 195  303  00 

Cost  of  constructing  a  wharf  on  the  Schuylkill,   with   a   road  leading  to   the 

Buildings .        ^^^j^  ^o 

Estimated  cost  to  complete  the  present  Buildings,  Almshouse  and  Hospital  .    .      85,000  00 
Estimated  cost  of  two  other  Buildings,  which  are  intended  as  House  of  Employ- 
ment, Children's  Asylum  and  Women's  Apartments,  which  are  to  be  built 
in  conformity  with  present  buildings 215  000  co 

1^°^^^ ■ ^551,536  c4 

Contracts  were  awarded  for  plastering,  painting  and  glazing 
of  the  center  building  on  February  20th,  1832.  The  Committee 
of  Conference  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  of  the  Commis- 
sioners reported,  March  5th,  1832,  that  they  had  unanimously 
agreed  upon  the  plans  for  the  additional  buildings. 

An  advertisement  for  proposals  was  inserted  on  March  13th 
1832,  reading:  "Sealed  proposals  will  be  received  by  the  Board  of 
Commissioners  for  erecting  the  new  Almshouse  on  the  west  bank 
of  the  River  Schuylkill  until  the  19th  inst.,  for  doing  the  masons' 
v/ork  of  the  Women's  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employment. 
The  former  to  be  built  on  the  dormitory  system,  similar  to  the 
Men's  Almshouse  already  erected,  except  that  one-half  of  the  dor- 
mitories are  to  be  double  and  the  other  half  single.  The  partition 
walls  of  the  latter  to  be  stone.  The  work  to  be  done  in  a  sub- 
stantial and  workmanlike  manner.  The  stone  work  by  the  perch 
mason's  measure.  The  brick  work  by  the  thousand,  brick  maker's 
count,  and  the  chiseled  dressed  stone,  say,  sub-basement  and  belt- 
ing courses,  coins,  heads    and  sills  by  the    superficial  feet  when 

115 


116  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

laid  in  the  walls  only,  and  no  allowance  to  be  made  for  bed  or 
joints ;  all  jobbing  of  every  description  to  be  included."  The 
advertisement  also  called  for  bids  for  the  carpenter  work,  for 
1,500,000  bricks  and  for  chiseled  dressed  stone.. 

The  work  was  divided  in  the  same  manner  as  the  other  had 
been,  and  bids  were  received  from  the  same  carpenters  to  do  the 
work,  at  a  deduction  of  forty  per  cent,  from  the  old  prices.  Their 
propositions  were  accepted.  The  proposal  of  Joseph  L.  Atkinson 
for  doing  mason's  work,  etc.,  viz  :  for  stone  work  at  55  cents  per 
perch,  brick  work  at  $2.29  per  thousand,  and  laying  chiseled 
dressed  stone  at  10  cents  per  foot  was  accepted,  and  the  Women's 
Ahnshouse  was  allotted  to  him.  The  proposal  of  Henry  Reeves  for 
stone  work  at  58  cents  per  perch,  brick  work  at  $2,18  per  thousand, 
and  laying  chiseled  dressed  stone  at  9  cents  per  foot,  was  also  ac- 
cepted, and  he  was  given  the  work  on  House  of  Employment. 

The  contract  for  furnishing  1,500,000  bricks  was  awarded  to 
Philip  Reynolds  &  Son  at  $6.25  per  thousand. 

Mr.  Wm.  Wagner  resigned  his  seat  as  a  Commissioner  and 
Mr.  Jonathan  Johnson  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Messrs.  Moss,  Ogden  and  Deal  were  appointed  as  a  committee 
to  "  purchase  lumber  generally." 

The  following  communication  was  forwarded : 

"■  Philadelphia  Almshouse,  July  30,  1832. 
"  T/ie  Commissioners  for  Erecting  New  Almshouse  : 

"  Gentlemen — The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  having 
decided  upon  the  immediate  removal  of  a  considerable  portion  of 
paupers  from  this  House  to  the  New  Buildings  over  Schuylkill,  we 
respectfully  request  that  you  will  instruct  the  architect  to  have 
immediately  erected  a  temporary  apparatus  sufficient  to  cook  for 
five  hundred  persons.  Until  this  is  effected  the  removal  cannot 
take  place,  and  it  is  a  matter  of  necessity  that  the  paupers  should 
at  once  be  removed.  It  is  also  requested  that  carpenters  be  directed 
to  prepare  slats  for  the  dormitory  and  to  do  such  other  work  as  may 
be  immediately  required  for  the  accommodation  of  the  paupers." 
Referred  to  Joint  Committee. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  117 

On  August   23d,   1H32,  the  following  resolution  was  passed : 

^''Resolved^  That  the  Board  of  Commissioners  for  erecting  the 
New  Almshouse  be  requested  to  furnish  the  names  of  all  persons 
under  salary,  how  they  are  employed,  and  the  amount  of  salaries' 
respectively ;  the  names  of  all  persons  wdth  whom  they  have  con- 
tracted for  materials  or  work,  stating  the  kind  of  materials  and 
work.  The  names  of  persons  who  have  supplied  material  or  done 
work  without  contracts  ;  a  copy  of  the  different  contracts  entered 
into  for  material  and  workmanship." 

The  Commissioners  replied  as  follows  :  "  That  the  following 
persons  are  employed  by  this  Board  at  annual  salaries,  viz.:  Wm. 
Govett,  Superintendent,  $900 ;  Wm.  Strickland,  architect,  $800 ; 
John  Diehl,  clerk,  $800 ;  George  Meyers,  $600,  as  blacksmith,  in 
lieu  of  working  by  the  piece. 

"  The  copies  of  all  the  contracts  called  for  by  the  Guardians 
being  very  voluminous  would  require  much  time  and  labour,  to 
avoid  which,  and  at  the  same  time  to  meet  the  views  of  said  Board, 
the  Commissioners  respectfully  invite  them  to  examine,  through 
the  medium  of  a  committee,  the  written  contracts,  books  of  min- 
utes and  such  other  documents  as  may  be  required  to  accomplish 
the  objects  of  their  inquiry."  The  yeas  and  nays  were  called  on 
the  motion  to  send  the  above  information  and  were :  Yeas,  Messrs. 
Keyser,  Fraley,  Deal,  Johnson  and  Bunker.  Nays,  Messrs.  Moss, 
Ogden  and  Grover. 

On  July  7th,  1832,  the  following  communication  was  received  : 
"  Special  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  was 
held  at  the  Philadelphia  Almshouse.  Present :  Drs.  Neill,  Hodge, 
Horner,  Barton,  Randolph  and  Morton.     On  motion, 

^''Resolved^  That  the  Medical  Board  recommend  to  the  Board 
of  Managers  the  propriety  of  prohibiting  the  introduction  into  this 
house  of  any  case  of  cholera. 

"  Resolved^  That  it  also  be  recommended  to  the  Managers  to 
make  provision  for  such  cases  of  cholera  as  may  occur  within  the 
limits  of  their  administration,  and  that  said  accommodations  be 
located  as  near  as  practicable  to  this  infirmary." 

(Signed)       S.  G.  Morton,  M.  D.,  Secretary  pro  tern. 


118  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  following  preamble,  and  resolution  were  received  from  the 
out-door  physicians  : 

"  Whereas,  The  experience  of  Europe  has  shown  that  the 
removal  of  patients  attacked  with  cholera  to  hospitals  remote 
from  their  places  of  residence  is  attended  with  injurious  effects; 
therefore, 

^'Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Guardians  for  the  Relief  and 
Employment  of  the  Poor  be  recommended  to  establish,  under  the 
superintendence  of  the  out-door  physicians,  temporary  hospitals 
for  the  reception  of  such  cases  as  it  may  at  the  present  period  be 
deemed  inexpedient  to  admit  into  the  Almshouse. 

D.  F.  CoNDiE,  Chairman. 

These  were  the  warning  notes  of  the  approach  of  the  disease 
that  afflicted  the  people  of  the  city  and  caused  so  much  fear  and 
misery.  Every  measure  that  could  be  suggested  for  relief  was 
tried  by  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor.  A  special  meeting  of  the 
Board  was  held  on  Sunday  July  29th,  1832,  "  to  consider  what 
measures  ought  to  be  adopted  in  consequence  of  a  case  of  malig- 
nant cholera  having  occurred  in  the  Almshouse."  The  following 
preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted : 

"  Whereas,  A  case  of  cholera  morbus  of  a  highly  malignant 
character  has  occurred  in  the  Medical  Ward  of  the  Almshouse, 
this  day,  and  we  have  every  reason  to  believe  that  the  disease  will 
progress  unless  immediate  measures  be  taken  to  remove  the  popu- 
lation ;  and,  as  in  every  place  where  an  epidemic  has  made  its 
appearance,  its  progress  has  been  checked  as  soon  as  the  inhabit- 
ants have  been  removed  from  the  infected  district,  and  few,  or  no 
new  cases  have  occurred  among  the  persons  so  removed  there- 
from. To  protect  the  lives  of  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse  and 
to  prevent  the  cholera  from  obtaining  a  favorable  spot  for  the  infec- 
tion of  Philadelphia. 

Resolved^  That  measures  be  taken  for  the  immediate  removal 
of  all  healthy  paupers  from  the  Almshouse  to  the  new  buildings 
over  Schuylkill  or  to  some  other  suitable  place,  except  those  whose 
services  are  required  for  the  sick. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  119 

'''Resolved^  That  the  sick  persons  be  so  distributed  in  the  wards 
as  to  afford  all  the  advantages  of  ventilation  and  cleanliness. 

''''Resolved^  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  carry  the  fore- 
going resolutions  into  effect  and  organize  the  place  provided." 

Messrs.  Woolf,  I.  Cope,  Lippincott,  Hansell,  Ryan  and  Burden 
were  appointed  on  the  committee. 

By  request  of  this  Committee  the  mayor  sent  a  letter  to  Com- 
modore Barron  asking  him  to  place  the  Naval  Asylum  in  posses- 
sion of  the  Committee,  with  permission  to  remove  into  it  some 
of  the  paupers  from  the  Almshouse.  A  reply  was  received  from 
Dr.  Connors,  the  attending  ofi&cer,  "  declining  to  comply,  not  feeling 
authorized  to  allow  the  admission  of  paupers  into  it,  or  its  occu- 
pation by  the  civil  authorities  for  any  other  purpose  than  as  a  hos- 
pital for  cholera  patients. 

The  mayor  was  chairman  of  the  Sanitary  Committee  of  the 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  consulted  with  that  body.  It  was  sug- 
gested that  the  Board  of  Health  be  requested  to  take  possession  of 
the  Naval  Asylum,  and  to  allow  the  Guardians  to  occupy  the  City 
Hospital  near  Bush  Hill. 

The  Committee  was  instructed  to  erect  sheds  at  the  "  new 
buildings  over  Schuylkill  "  for  a  hospital  for  the  sick  of  that  build- 
ing, and  the  Committee  of  the  house  was  authorized  to  employ  two 
resident  physicians  for  the  "  house  over  the  Schuylkill." 

The  Board  of  Health  declined  to  act  upon  the  request  to  take 
possession  of  the  Naval  Asylum. 

Dr.  Burden  reported,  August  13,  1832,  that  by  direction  of  the 
Committee  of  the  house,  he  had  "  made  application  to  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hughes  for  the  aid  of  some  of  the  '  Sisters  of  Charity,'  and  that 
eight  of  them  had  arrived  and  were  engaged  in  attending  upon  the 
sick  in  the  house." 

A  report  from  the  Committee  of  the  house,  under  date  of 
August  27,  1832,  gives  an  idea  of  the  conditions  at  that  time.  It 
reads  as  follows  : 

"  When  cholera  made  its  appearance  in  the  different  wards  of 
the  Almshouse,  and  led  to  the  belief  that  the  atmosphere  of  the 
whole  institution  was  infected,  the  nurses  and  attendants  became 


120  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

clamorous  for  an  increase  of  wages,  and  after  their  demands  were 
gratified,  such  was  the  appalling  nature  and  extent  of  the  disease, 
that  fear  overcame  every  other  consideration,  and  it  was  found 
impracticable  to  keep  the  nurses  to  their  duty  or  to  obtain,  at  a 
reasonable  price,  proper  persons  to  attend  to  the  sick. 

"  In  a  disease  which  requires  unremitted  attention  from  nurses, 
those  employed  in  the  wards  (a  few  excepted)  were  by  no  means 
suitable.  In  several  cases  where  the  doctors  had  succeeded  in 
raising  patients  from  the  collapsed  state,  and  when  there  was  well 
grounded  hope  of  recovery,  death  resulted  from  the  carelessness 
and  inattention  of  the  attendants.  In  one  ward  where  the  disease 
raged  in  all  its  horrors,  where  one  would  suppose  that  the  heart 
would  be  humbled  and  the  feelings  softened  at  the  sight  of  distress, 
the  nurse  and  her  attendants  were  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  heed- 
less of  the  groans  of  the  patients  and  fighting  over  the  bodies  of 
the  dying  and  the  dead. 

"  The  Committee,  in  their  daily  visits  to  the  wards,  used  every 
exertion  to  preserve  decorum  and  to  cause  proper  attention  to  be 
given  to  the  sick,  but  without  success.  The  few  good  nurses  were 
broken  down  by  loss  of  rest  and  by  fatigue,  and  the  remainder 
abandoned  the  sick  from  fear  of  disease  or  resorted  to  intoxication, 
the  means  for  producing  which  being  necessarily  at  their  disposal. 

"  Under  these  circumstances  the  Committee  came  to  the  deter- 
mination of  soliciting  the  Sisters  of  Charity  at  Kmmetsburg  to  take 
charge  of  the  wards,  and  for  this  purpose  they  applied  to  Bishop 
Kendrick,  to  whom  they  were  introduced  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Kiely. 
The  application  was  received  by  him  in  the  spirit  of  Christianity 
and  kindness.  The  Rev.  Messrs.  Donahue  and  Hughes  likewise 
favored  the  views  of  the  Committee. 

"  Two  hours  after  the  receipt  of  Bishop  Kendrick's  letter,  the 
Sisters  were  on  the  road  to  Philadelphia.  On  their  arrival  the 
Committee  prepared  accommodations  for  them  in  the  eastern  tower, 
and  they  immediately  entered  upon  the  dangerous  duties  assigned 
them. 

''  The  Committee  cannot  express  the  feelings  of  respect  and 
admiration  which  they  entertain  for  the  conduct  of  the  Sisters.     It 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  121 

requires  no  common  exercise  of  courage  for  persons  to  remain  in 
the  chamber  of  sickness,  to  administer  relief,  even  to  relatives  and 
friends,  during  the  prevalence  of  pestilence.  These  ladies,  how- 
ever, left  a  healthy  home  to  visit  an  infected  city,  to  encounter  a 
dreadful  disease,  to  live  in  an  atmosphere  dangerous  in  the  extreme, 
to  watch  by  the  bedside  of  strangers,  of  the  friendless,  of  the  out- 
cast, of  those  who  generally  had  proved  themselves  unworthy  of 
kindness. 

"  Nothing  but  a  high  sense  of  duty  and  a  disinterested  love  of 
their  fellow  creatures  could  have  induced  the  Sisters  to  take  charge 
of  our  wards. 

"  Since  their  introduction  to  the  house  the  Committee  has 
given  them  the  sole  control  of  the  female  department,  and  are  much 
gratified  with  their  mode  of  government,  as  it  will  not  only  con- 
tribute to  lessen  the  expenses  of  the  institution,  but  will  cause  an 
improvement  in  the  morals  and  discipline  highly  desirable. 

"As  nurses  their  services  are  valuable;  guided  by  no  mer- 
cenary motives,  refusing  all  compensation,  sustained  by  principle 
alone ;  kind,  intelligent  and  cheerful,  their  attentions  will  contri- 
bute to  the  success  of  the  physicians.  The  patients  will  find  in 
them  friends  indeed  and  '  Sisters  of  Charity.' 

"  The  Committee  believe  that  if  the  Sisters  can  be  prevailed 
upon  to  remain,  the  Hospital  department  of  the  Almshouse  will 
afford  greater  opportunity  for  the  recovery  of  the  sick  than  any 
other  institution  in  the  United  States.  The  Committee  submit  the 
following  resolutions  : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Sisters  of  Charity  have  charge  of  the 
Female  Department  of  the  Almshouse,  and  of  such  medical  and 
surgical  wards  of  the  Male  Department  as  they  may  consent  to. 

"  Resolved^  That  they  be  requested  to  remain  permanently  in 
the  institution. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Committee  of  the  House  be  directed  to 
have  the  Hospital  department  put  in  as  favorable  a  condition  for 
the  comfort  and  attendance  of  the  sick  as  the  construction  of  the 
wards  will  admit  of. 

"  Resolved,    That   the  thanks    of  the    Board    be    tendered  to 


122  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Bishop  Kendrick  and  the  Rev.  Messrs.  Kiely,  Hughes  and  Dona- 
liue  for  their  Christian-like  and  gentlemanly  conduct  in  procuring 
the  aid  of  the  '  Sisters  of  Charity.' 

Respectfully  submitted  by, 

J.  R.  Burden, 
John  L.  Woolf, 
Lewis  Ryan, 
Wm.  S.  Hansell, 

ConiTnittee. 

The  resolutions  were  unanimously  agreed  to. 

The  Guardians  applied  for  the  schoolhouse  at  Twelfth  and 
Locust  Streets,  but  could  not  obtain  it.  They  rented  a  building  on 
Broad  Street  near  Vine  and  fitted  it  up  for  the  reception  of  patients. 
Dr.  Thomas  Mackie  Smith,  one  of  the  resident  phj^sicians  at  the 
Almshouse,  was  appointed  Physician-in-Chief  of  the  Broad  Street 
Infirmary,  and  Dr.  Benjamin  Neill  as  Assistant.  Under  their 
direction,  the  Hospital  was  opened  on  July  30th,  1832.  It  was 
closed  September  3d.  The  Committee  said  there  was  no  further 
occasion  to  continue  it,  as  "  the  cholera  had  almost  entirely  disap- 
peared." During  the  time  it  was  in  operation  there  were  44  males 
and  21  females  treated ;  of  which  4  died,  38  were  sent  to  the  Alms- 
Bouse,  19  discharged  cured  and  2  eloped ;  one  was  sent  to  cholera 
hospital  and  one  to  Bush  Hill. 

On  September  20,  1832,  the  Committee  of  the  House  was 
directed  to  remove  the  paupers  from  the  new  Almshouse  over  the 
Schuylkill  to  this  house.  Dr.  Samuel  G.  Morton  was  paid  $100 
for  professional  services  "  over  the  river  during  the  prevalence  of 
cholera,"  and  Mr.  William  O.  Kline  was  paid  $100  for  services  as 
steward,  "  over  the  river." 

The  Guardians  were  very  anxious  to  remove  to  the  new  Alms- 
house, and  on  November  12th,  1832,  a  report  was  made  by  the 
"  Committee  of  the  Whole,"  "  that,  after  a  full  examination,  they 
were  of  opinion  that  the  buildings  would  be  fit  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  the  inmates  of  the  House  on  or  before  May  ist,  1833."  A 
committee  was  appointed  to  make  arrangements  for  the  removal, 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  123 

and  another  to  prepare  a  plan  for  the  sale  of  the  Sprnce  Street 
property." 

Dr.  T.  Mackie  Smith  was  paid  $75  for  services  rendered  in 
the  Almshouse  Infirmary  "  during  the  prevalence  of  the  cholera." 
Notu'ithstanding  the  anxiety  of  the  Guardians,  the  buildings 
were  not  ready  to  be  occupied  at  the  time  stated,  and  on 
April  29th,  1833,  the  Committee  on  Conference  was  requested  to 
^'  inquire  as  to  the  progress  made  in  the  new  buildings  over 
Schuylkill,  the  probable  time  when  they  will  be  finished  and  the 
sum  which  will  be  required  to  finish  them."  The  Commissioners 
were  requested  to  proceed  as  early  as  possible  to  finish  the  two 
buildings  already  erected,  so  that  they  could  be  in  condition  to 
be  occupied. 

Mr.  Woolf  gave  notice  "  that  at  the  first  stated  meeting  in 
July  he  should  move  for  the  removal  of  the  paupers  to  the  new 
buildings  west  of  the  Schuylkill. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Guardians  was  held  on  May  17th, 
1833,  to  consider  a  communication  from  Rev.  John  Hickey,  Supe- 
rior of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  in  relation  to  their  removal  from  the 
Almshouse.  The  following  extract  gives  the  reasons  assigned  for 
recalling  them  : 

"  Being  now  on  the  spot,  and  having  made  all  the  inquiries 
necessary  to  determine  my  judgment,  I  feel  it  my  duty,  gentlemen, 
to  advise  you  that  I  do  not  consider  their  longer  stay  in  the  Alms- 
house to  be  the  department  of  charity  in  which  they  can  be  most 
usefully  employed. 

"  With  all  the  good  will  and  kindness  which  you  gentlemen 
have  manifested  in  their  regard,  I  do  not  perceive  that,  consistently 
with  the  principle  on  which  the  institution  is  founded,  supported 
and  governed,  it  is  in  your  power  to  secure  to  them  those  opportu- 
nities of  practicing  the  duties  of  their  state  of  life  according  to 
their  rules  ;  that  protection  of  their  feelings  from  the  rude  assaults 
of  such  persons  as  are  necessarily  in  your  institution,  and  regard 
it  as  their  own,  whilst  they  look  upon  those  who  minister  to  their 
comfort  as  servants,  paid  for  doing  it ;  or  that  security  from  mis- 
representation of  motives  and  action  to  which  a  few  retiring  and 


124  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

timid    females    are    necessarily    exposed,  laboring   amidst    such   a 
population  of  paupers. 

"  Besides,  in  every  case  of  legal  provision  for  the  poor,  the 
expenses  of  attending  them  are  included ;  the  places  occupied 
by  the  Sisters  might  afford  employment  to  others  who  stand  in 
need  of  it,  for  the  sake  of  the  emolument,  which  enters  not  intotbe 
motives  that  influence  the  Sisters  or  their  superiors.  Consequently 
the  poor  would  be  attended  to  in  your  institution,  whilst  the  Sisters 
could  be  employed  in  other  departments  of  charity,  where  the 
unhappy  sufferers  have  to  depend  upon  a  more  precarious  support; 
where  the  orphans  will  look  upon  them  as  mothers  and  the  sick  as 
sisters  ;  where  theirs  will  be  the  task  to  plant  the  seeds  of  virtue 
and  of  education  in  the  minds  of  poor  children,  where  poverty  and 
wretched  parents  sometimes  conspire  to  deprive  them  of  both, 
unless  such  facilities  be  afforded," 

Mr.  Woolf  presented  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions, 
which  were  unanimously  adopted,  and,  together  with  the  letter  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Hickey,  ordered  to  be  published  : 

"  WherEAvS,  a  written  communication  has  been  received  from 
Rev.  John  Hickey,  Superior  of  the  Sisters  of  Charity,  intimating, 
for  reasons  therein  stated,  that  it  is  his  intention  to  recall  the  Sisters 
now  in  the  Almshouse,  as  soon  as  the  Board  shall  have  had  time 
to  supply  their  places,  and 

"  Whereas,  It  is  proper  that  some  testimony  should  be  borne 
to  the  zeal,  fidelity  and  disinterestedness  which  these  amiable 
philanthropists  have  exhibited  ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  this  body  entertain  a  deep,  lasting  and  grate- 
ful sense  of  the  generous  devotedness,  the  sincere  and  Christian 
kindness,  and  the  pure  and  unworldly  benevolence  which  have 
prompted  and  sustained  the  Sisters  of  Charity  attached  to  this 
institution  during  the  trying  period  of  pestilence  and  death,  and 
afterwards  in  the  midst  of  constant  suffering  and  disease. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  invaluable  services  of  these  amiable 
women  have  been  productive  of  lasting  benefits  to  this  institution, 
in  the  admirable  and  energetic  measures  which  they  have  intro- 
duced for  the  relief  and  comfort  of  the  sick  and  afflicted,  and  entitle 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  125 

them  to  the  warmest  thanks  and  gratitude  of  the  whole  commu- 
nity which,  have  been  benefitted  by  their  labors. 

"  Resolved^  That  this  body,  in  parting  from  the  Sisters  of 
Charity,  regret  that  the  rules  and  habits  of  the  order,  to  which 
the  Sisters  belong,  do  not  admit  the  acceptance  of  any  reward, 
as  it  woulH  give  them  pleasure  to  bestow  such  a  testimonial  as 
might  serve  partially  to  express  the  grateful  feelings  which  they 
entertain. 

"  Resolved^  That  in  permanent  testimony  of  our  feelings  in 
this  regard,  the  above  resolutions  be  recorded  in  the  minutes  of  the 
Board." 

On  May  27,  1833,  the  following  replies  to  inquiries  proposed 
by  the  Committee  of  Conference  to  the  Building  Commissioners 
were  read : 

"  ist  Query — The  two  buildings,  in  all  probability,  will  be 
ready  to  receive  the  paupers  by  the  ist  of  October.  There  remains 
yet  to  be  completed  the  portico,  culverts,  privies,  tanks  and  forcing 
pumps  and  apparatus  for  cooking  generally. 

"  2d  Query — The  two  now  erecting,  have  on  their  second  floor 
of  joist  and  the  work  is  progressing  rapidly.  Expended  up  to  this 
period  $107,072.78.  Sum  necessary  to  complete  these  two  build- 
ings, $175,000;  they  will  be  finished  in  course  of  next  season. 

"  3^  Query — The  sum  required  to  finish  the  entire  establish- 
ment being  $200,000. 

"  4th  Query — Contracts  yet  to  be  made  for  the  two  in  progress 
are  plastering  and  rough-casting,  both  copper  and  coppering,  paint- 
ing and  glazing." 

These  answers  do  not  appear  to  have  satisfied  the  Board,  as  a 
motion  to  negotiate  another  loan  of  $100,000  caused  considerable 
discussion,  and  when  passed  it  ''provided^  however^  that  no  mo7iey 
shall  be  paid  to  the  Commissioners  for  the  ei^ectioji  of  the  new  Alms- 
hottse  until  said  Conifnissioners  furnish  a  detailed  statement  in 
writing  of  the  money  already  expended^  the  7iames  of  the  Co7i- 
ti'actors,  the  names  of  Agents  and  Superintendents^  with  their 
respective  salaries^  and  the  probable  arnount  of  7noney  required  to 
complete  the  buildings  respectively i' '' 


126  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Juue  3,  1833,  the  Commissioners  sent  a  communication,  show- 
ing the  amount  of  money  expended  to  have  been  ^482,358.60, 
and  that  the  sum  required  to  finish  would  be  $200,000,  of  which 
$150,000  would  be  required  in  1833.  A  list  of  contracts  for  fur- 
nishing materials  and  prices  of  work,  together  with  the  names  and 
salaries  of  persons  employed,  was  also  furnished. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

FIRST  REGULAR  MEETING  HELD  IN  NEW  ALMSHOUSE. 

OCTOBER  arrived,  but  the  buildings  were  not  in  condition 
to  be  occupied.  On  the  21st  of  that  month,  in  reply  to 
an  inquiry  of  the  Guardians,  the  Commissioners  stated 
that  it  would  require  $170,000  more  to  complete  the 
buildings,  and  gave  notice  that  they  had  drawn  on  the  Board  for 
$50,000. 

The  Guardians  requested  the  Commissioners  to  furnish  them 
with  the  original  estimates  of  the  cost  of  the  buildings,  the  amount 
expended  and  the  sum  required  to  finish  them.  The  Commis- 
sioners replied,  November  4th,  that  the  original  estimate  for  the 
erection  of  the  buildings  was  ^320,000.00  ;  the  amount  expended 
was  $579,829.46,  and  the  amount  yet  required  to  complete  them 
was  $170,000.00. 

The  Guardians  gave  notice  that  they  would  remove  all  the 
paupers  to  the  new  Almshouse  between  the  ist  and  loth  of  April, 
1834.  The  visitors  of  the  poor  districts  were  directed  to  report  the 
names  of  their  out-door  paupers  who  now  receive  regular  relief, 
designating  those  who  are  willing  to  go  into  the  new  Almshouse 
and  those  who  refuse  to  go. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  consider  the  propriety  of  estab- 
lishing two  omnibuses  to  run  between  the  Exchange  and  the  new 
Almshouse,  and  also  to  inquire  from  the  Bridge  Company  as  to 
what  arrangements,  with  regard  to  toll,  could  be  made  with  them. 

April  passed,  but  the  paupers  were  not  removed.  On  June 
1 6th  the  Guardians  again  asked  as  to  the  time  required  to  finish 
the  buildings  and  whether  arrangements  could  be  made  to  hasten 
their  completion. 

On  June  23,  1834,  Mr.  Hemphill  made  the  following  report, 
which  was  accepted  : 

"  Agreeably  to  the  resolution  of  the  Board,  passed  on  the  I5t1i 
inst.,  the  Treasurer  makes  report  in  relation  to  the  loans  as  fol- 

127 


128  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

lows  :  '  Thejirsf  proposal  for  a  loan  of  $106,000  was  published  in 
1829,  t)nt  brought  forth  no  offers,  except  a  private  letter  to  the 
Treasurer  from  Stephen  Girard,  Esq.,  who  offered  to  take  $25,000 
at  par,  which  was  accepted  by  the  Board,  and.  the  money  was 
received  in  January,  1829.  C)f  the  residue  of  this  loan  $44,000 
were  sold  at  par,  $5,600  at  1  per  cent,  premium,  and  $25,400  at  3^ 
per  cent,  premium,  making  principal  $100,000,  premium,  $945  ; 
total,  $100,945.00.  This  loan  is  redeemable  in  1836 ;  interest 
payable  January  and  July  at  5  per  cent.,  $5,000  per  annum. 

"The  second  loan  was  for  $150,000,  redeemable  in  1840;  it 
commenced  in  1830.  Proposals  were  advertised  for,  but  with  little 
effect,  as  only  $25,000  of  it  were  disposed  of,  and  at  par,  up  to 
July,  and  it  was  not  until  October,  183 1,  that  the  loan  was  filled, 
different  amounts  having  been  disposed  of  at  intervals  until  the 
close,  at  4  per  cent,  premium.  Thus  there  was  at  par  $25,000,  at 
4  per  cent,  premium  $125,000;  premium,  $5,000;  total,  $155,000. 
Interest  payable  January  and  July,  at  5  per  cent.,  $7,500  per 
annum. 

"  The  third  loan  was  disposed  of  by  the  Finance  Committee 
to  Thomas  Biddle  &  Co.  at  10  per  cent,  premium,  between  March 
and  August,  1832,  redeemable  in  1850  for  $100,000  at  10  per  cent, 
premium,  $110,000.  Interest  payable  January  and  July,  at  5  per 
cent.,  $5,000. 

"The  foiu'th  loan  was  commenced  in  August,  1832,  and  was 
disposed  of  to  Thomas  Biddle  &  Co.  at  10  per  cent,  premium,  and 
was  received  in  various  amounts  as  required  between  that  period 
and  April,  1833.  It  is  redeemable  in  i860.  The  principal  is 
$100,000;  premium,  $10,000  ;  total,  $110,000.  Interest  payable 
January  and  July,  at  5  per  cent.,  $5,000  per  annum. 

"  The  fifth  loan  was  for  $100,000,  and  was  disposed  of  to 
different  persons,  in  1833,  at  a  premium  of  8  per  cent.  It  is 
redeemable  in  1863.  Principal,  $100,000;  premium,  $8,000;  total, 
$108,000. 

"  The  sixth  loan  commenced  later  in  the  year  1833,  and  was 
designed  to  be  for  $100,000.  Of  this  sum,  however,  only  $75,000 
have  been  actually  disposed  of,   the  residue  being  considered  as 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


129 


appropriated  to  meet  tlie  note  given  to  Mr.  Trotter,  due  about  this 
time  for  copper.  Of  the  $75,000,  $42,500  have  been  disposed  of  at 
par,  and  $32,500  at  i^  per  cent,  premium,  $32,987.50.  Reserved 
to  meet  the  note  of  Mr.  Trotter,  $25,000.  Total,  $100,487.50. 
This  loan  is  redeemable  in  1865.  Interest  payable  in  January  and 
July,  $5,000  per  annum. 

RECAP1TU1.AT10N. 


Loan  No.  i 


Redeemable  1836  . 
"  1840 


3    •    • 

" 

1850 

4    •    • 

<( 

i860 

5    -   - 

u 

1863 

6    .    . 

(f 

1865 

I I 00, 000  . 
150,000  , 
100,000 
.     100,000 
.     100,000 

ICO.OOO  . 


Premium, 


^945  00 

5,000  00 

10,000  00 

10,000  00 

8,000  00 

487  50 


Total  Loans    .    . 
Total  Premiums 


50,000 134,432  50 

54,432  50 


Total 684,432  50 


"  The  interest  already  paid  or  accruing,  to  be  paid  on  the  ist 
of  July  next : 


On  No.  I 

2 

3 

4 
5 

6 


1836  .    .    .    ; I24.510  38 

.  1840 24,213  85 

.  1850 12,125  00 

.  i860 10,000  00 

.  1863 2,500  00 

.  1865 1.595  61- 


Total  interest  to  July,  1834 

Less  the  sum  received  from  Thomas  Biddle  &  Co.  for  interest  while 
sums  were  in  their  hands 


4,944  84 
53,820  12 
a, 124  72 


''  The  semi-annual  payment  of  interest  will  be,  after  the  ist  of 

July  next,  $16,250.00." 

Respectfully  submitted, 

John  Hemphill,  Treasurer. 

June  23d,   1834. 

On  June  30th,  1834,  the  following  preamble  and  resolution 
were  passed  by  the  Guardians  : 

"Whereas,  The  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the  erection  of 
the  new  Almshouse  have  failed  in  making  their  quarterly  state- 
ment, required  by  law,  therefore, 
9 


130  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

^''  Resolved^  That  this  Board  will  not  authorize  any  further 
loans  until  a  satisfactory  statement  be  given  for  the  omission." 

On  July  7th,  1834,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Furnishing  Com- 
mittee be  requested  to  have  the  manager's  and  steward's  apart- 
ments of  the  new  Almshouse  fitted  up  during  the  present  week. 
It  was  also 

"  Resolved^  That  we  commence  moving  on  Monday  next,  at 
nine  o'clock. 

"  Resolved^  That  a  Committee  of  the  whole  Board  be  a  Com- 
mittee to  oversee  the  removal. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  Commissioners  be  requested  to  inform  the 
Board  at  what  time  they  will  be  able  to  deliver  for  occupancy  the 
Almshouse,  (eastern  building)  Hospital  and  Outhouses." 

Dr.  Harlan  appeared  before  the  Board  and  presented  the  fol- 
lowing resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Physicians. 

"  Resolved^  That  in  the  opinion  of  the  Medical  Board,  who  re- 
cently visited  the  New  Almshouse,  it  is  expedient  to  remove,  as 
soon  as  practicable,  the  occupants  of  the  present  house  to  their 
future  abode,  the  latter  being  fully  prepared  for  their  reception ; 
and  further, 

"  Resolved^  That  they  highly  approve  of  the  project  to  devote 
a  portion  of  the  extensive  grounds  attached  to  the  New  Almshouse 
to  the  establishment  of  a  Medico-Botanical  Garden,  and  would  sug- 
gest that  in  order  to  make  it  practically  useful  to  the  students, 
the  patients  and  the  profession  generally,  it  will  be  necessary  to 
place  its  permanent  superintendence  in  the  hands  of  a  scientific 
Botanist,  who  for  a  moderate  annual  salary  would  furnish  occa- 
sional practical  lessons  to  the  students  attending  the  practice  of 
the  house." 

At  a  special  meeting,  held  July  i6th,  1834,  Mr.  Hemphill,  of 
the  Finance  Committee,  reported  that  they  had  an  offer  from 
Messrs.  Biddle  for  $25,000  loan  at  sixty  days  with  interest,  at  par, 
and  that  the  Bank  of  United  States  had  agreed  to  discount'  a 
note  for  $10,000,  on  a  deposit  of  stock,  which  was  approved. 

The  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

"  Resolved^  It  is  expedient  that  the  order  of  removal  adopted 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  131 

by  this  Board  on  Monday  last  be  so  amended  as  to  give  discretion- 
ary power  to  the  Committees  on  Removal  to  make  such  alterations 
as  they  may  deem  necessary. 

^''  Resolved^  That  the  Board  be  and  is  hereby  divided  into  three 
committees  of  four  members  each,  to  be  denominated  Removal 
Committees,  two  of  which  go  off  each  day,  the  two  that  have  been 
on  the  previous  day  to  divide  themselves,  so  as  one  of  each  will  be 
at  each  house, 

"  Resolved^  That  no  permits  for  liberty  be  granted  during  the 
time  taken  up  in  removing,  and  that  no  discharge  be  granted  to 
any  of  the  inmates  of  the  house  that  are  known  to  be  of  intem- 
perate habits. 

"  Resolved^  That  previous  to  the  removal  of  any  Ward  twenty- 
four  hours'  notice  shall  be  given  to  the  paupers,  that  they  may 
make  preparations  ;  the  Steward  or  Matron  (as  the  case  may  be)  shall 
take  care  that  the  paupers  shall  have  their  breakfasts  before  they 
start  and  every  arrangement  shall  be  made  for  their  reception  in 
the  New  Almshouse  in  such  way  as  to  give  them  beds  and  their 
regular  meals. 

"  That  the  hours  of  removal  shall  be  between  6  o'clock  A.  m. 

and  12  M.,  and  that  not  more  than  loo  shall  be  removed  in  one  day. 

"  That  two  cooks  shall  be  detailed  for  service  in  the  new  house. 

^^  Resolved^ 'X\i2X  the  Matron  remove,  to  the  New  Almshouse 

to-morrow." 

The  committees  were : 
I.  Messrs.  Fraley,        2.  Messrs.  Day,  3.  Messrs.  Hemphill, 

Hansen,  .      Woolf,  Keefe, 

Earp,  Lancaster,  Keyser, 

Burden.  Jones.  Smith. 

July  28th,  1834,  it  was 
"  Resolved^  That  the  President  of  the  Board  inform  the  County 
Commissioners  that  after  Saturday  next  the  Board  will  cease  to 
occupy  the  office  on  Chestnut  street. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  office  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  shall  be 
established  at  the  Spruce  Street  Almshouse." 

"  Resolved^  That  the  President  cause  public  notice  to  be  given 


132  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals, 

in  the  daily  papers  of  the  occupancy  of  the  New  Almshouse  and 
the  removal  of  the  office." 

"  Adjourned  to  proceed  over  Schuylkill  to  meet  in  the  New 
Almshouse." 

The  first  regularly  organized  meeting  of  the  Board  in  the 
New  Almshouse,  was  held  on  the  28th  day  of  July,  1834,  four  years, 
two  months  and  two  days  from  the  time  of  laying  the  corner  stone. 
The  census  of  the  house  at  time  of  removal  was  604  men,  407 
women  and  70  children,  a  total  of  108 1. 

At  the  meeting  held  August  iStli,  1834,  notice  was  received, 
of  a  legacy  of  $5000  from  Mrs.  Bsther  Waters  and  the  Finance 
Committee  was  directed  to  invest  the  amount  in  such  manner  as 
was  deemed  best. 

It  was  ordered  that  the  Almshouse  on  Spruce  street  should  be 
opened  to  receive  "  those  of  the  colored  population  who  have  left 
their  homes  in  consequence  of  the  riots  in  the  lower  parts  of  the 
city  and  districts." 

On  complaint  of  a  member  of  the  Board  and  the  Steward 
against  Dr.  John  B.  Calhoun  for  a  violation  of  th.e  rules  of  .the 
house  in  relation  to  the  examination  of  the  dead,  the  doctor  ap- 
peared before  the  Board,  and,  after  he  was  heard,  the  following 
resolution  was  adopted  : 

"  Resolved^  That  Dr.  John  B.  Calhoun  be  requested  to  tender 
his  resignation  to  the  Board  as  one  of  the  resident  physicians  of  the 
Almshouse." 

On  September  8th,  1834,  it  was 

"  Resolved^  That  a  road  in  as  direct  a  route  as  possible  shall  be 
laid  out  and  opened  immediately  from  the  landing  to  the  Alms- 
house and  from  the  Almshouse  to  the  Darby  Road,  and  the  Com- 
mittee of  the  House  be  requested  to  attend  to  the  construction  of 
said  road." 

The  Children's  Asylum  was  not  ready  to  be  occupied,  and  as 
the  old  building  in  which  they  were  quartered  would  require  ex- 
tensive repair,  the  Guardians  urged  the  Commissioners  to  finish  the 
building  intended  for  that  purpose  as  quickly  as  possible. 

On  September  29th,  1834,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Board  would 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  133 

offer  for  sale  the  materials  and  buildings  on  the  Spruce  street 
grounds  at  public  auction,  on  the  first  Alonday  in  November,  and 
will  offer  for  sale  the  square  bounded  by  Spruce  and  Pine  streets 
and  by  Tenth  and  Eleventh  streets,  on  the  second  Monday  of 
November  next,  at  public  auction,  notice  to  be  given  in  the  public 
papers. 

On  the  day  appointed  the  Committee  on  Sale  of  Lots  reported 
the  terms  of  sale  :  "  One-third  cash,  one-third  in  one  year,  and  the 
remaining  third  in  two  years,  secured  by  l)ond  and  mortgage  in 
the  usual  way,  with  interest.  If  required,  after  the  first  payment 
is  made,  sixty  feet  front,  running  from  Spruce  to  Pine  streets,  will 
be  released  to  purchaser,  possession  to  be  given  in  all  in  February. 
The  buildings  and  wall  to  be  excluded  from  the  sale  of  the  ground." 

Mr.  Smith  moved  to  limit  the  price  to  be  taken  for  the  lot  to 
$115,000.  Mr.  Day  proposed  $120,000  and  Mr.  Hansell  suggested 
$125,000.     Mr.  Hansen's  sum  was  agreed  to. 

The  ground  was  knocked  down  to  Mr.  Richard  Smethurst 
for  the  sum  of  $126,000,  but  he  failed  to  pay  the  first  install- 
ment. Mr.  Charles  I.  Wolbert  was  the  auctioneer  who  conducted 
tbe  sale. 

After  much  deliberation  it  was  determined  to  again  advertise 
the  lot  for  sale,  upon  the  same  terms  and  conditions  as  the  former 
sale. 

When  the  committee  called  upon  Mr.  Wolbert  to  instruct  him 
to  advertise  and  sell  the  lot,  they  learned  from  him  that  if  the 
ground  was  not  sold  at  the  second  sale  be  should  expect  commis- 
sions on  the  first  sale  from  the  Guardians,  but  if  it  was  sold  at  the 
second  sale  he  would  ask  but  one  commission.  The  committee 
referred  the  matter  to  the  Board  for  further  instructions.  In  their 
report  they  said  :  "  After  due  consideration  of  your  committee 
they  were  at  loss  to  know  how  to  act  without  further  instructions. 
If  the  lot  is  offered  and  we  become  the  purchasers  the  question 
then  arises  whether  we  do  not  release  Mr.  Smethurst,  and  if  sold 
for  a  less  price  than  last  time  then  the  question  is,  whether  we  can 
get  the  difference  from  Mr.  Smethurst.  In  either  case  we  are  liable 
for  the  commissions." 


134  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Mr.  Hemphill  moved  that  the  committee  wait  on  Mr.  Freeman 
and  arrange  with  him  for  selling  the  lot.  Mr.  Keyser  offered  as  a 
substitute  that  the  committee  wait  on  Mr.  Wolbert  and  "  say  to 
him  that  the  Board  is  ready  to  pay  him  the  commission  whenever 
he  hands  over  the  purchase  money." 

No  definite  action  was  taken  until  February  19th,  1835.  It 
was  then  resolved  "  that  the  terms  of  sale  should  be  one-quarter 
cash  in  ten  days,  one-quarter  payable  January  ist,  1836,  one-quarter 
payable  January  ist,  1837,  ^^^  one-quarter  payable  January  ist, 
1838,  secured  in  the  usual  way,  or,  if  more  convenient  to  the  pur- 
chaser, any  sum  not  less  than  $20,000  will  be  received  at  any  time 
on  account  of  the  Bonds,  upon  giving  fifteen  days  notice  to  the 
Board  of  Guardians. 

^''Resolved,  Unanimously,  that  the  lot  be  limited  to  $128,000." 

The  committee  reported  that  the  lot  was  offered  for  sale  on 
19th  instant  at  the  Philadelphia  Exchange,  but  was  not  sold. 

It  was  resolved  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed,  who 
shall  be  authorized  to  dispose  of  the  Almshouse  Square  at  a  price 
not  less  than  $130,000. 

On  March  2d,  1835,  the  committee  reported  that  the  lot  had 
been  sold  to  Mr.  A.  D.  Cash  for  $130,000.  Mr.  Cash  paid  $30,000 
and  gave  the  bond  of  Charles  F.  Lex  and  John  Gregg,  payable  to 
the  order  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  for  $100,000,  with  a  mort- 
gage to  secure  the  payment  on  January  ist,  1836. 

The  Commissioners  for  Erecting  the  New  Almshouse  passed 
a  resolution,  on  April  27th,  1835,  to  notify  the  Guardians  of  the 
Poor  that  they  "  now  surrender  to  them  the  entire  possession  of  the 
House  of  Employment  and  Women's  Almshouse,''  together  with 
the  policies  of  Insurance. 

Notice  was  given  by  the  Guardians  that  in  accordance  with 
the  act  of  May  5th,  1828,  that  from  and  after  the  ist  of  July,  1835? 
no  relief,  other  than  temporary,  shall  be  granted  to  the  out-door 
poor,  and  said  relief  be  confined  entirely  to  fuel,  provisions,  cloth- 
ing, medical  attendance  and  medicines. 

Mr.  Wolbert,  auctioneer,  was  paid  $714.00  for  commissions 
and  expenses  attending  the  sale  of  the  old  Almshouse  lot. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  135 

Mr.  Thomas  Mitchell  bought  the  old  Children's  Asylum  on 
Fifth  street  for  $15,000,  June  17th,  1835,  ^^^  ^^^  children  were 
removed  to  the  new  Almshouse. 

The  Commissioners  had  erected  four  distinct  buildings  at  right 
angles  with  each  other,  inclosing  a  space  of  about  700  feet  b}--  500 
feet.  They  were  located  near  the  southern  line  of  the  propert}',  at 
about  1,500  feet  from  the  river.  The  main  building  fronted  on  a 
road,  now  known  as  Vintasre  Avenue,  which  runs  northeast  and 
southwest.  This  location  secured  plent}'  of  air  and  a  beautiful 
outlook. 

ScharfP  &  Westcott's  history  says  :  "The  main  building  con- 
tained a  portico  90  feet  front,  supported  b\-  eight  columns  in  the 
Tuscan  order,  built  of  brick  and  rough  cast,  and  was  flanked  by 
two  wings,  each  200  feet  in  length.  The  portico,  being  elevated  on 
a  high  flight  of  steps  rising  be3'ond  the  basement  stor}'  to  those  of 
the  principal  storj^,  gave  to  this  group  of  buildings  a  commanding 
appearance." 

EarU^  pictures  .show  steps  extending  across  the  whole  front  of 
this  portico,  similar  to  those  on  the  United  States  Custom  House 
on  Chestnut  Street.  That  would  make  it  appear  as  though  the 
main  entrance  was  on  the  second  floor.  It  will  be  noticed  that  the 
description  quoted  speaks  of  the  lower  stor\'  as  the  "  basement,'' 
and  the  second  as  the  principal  stor}'.  It  is  not  so  now,  as  the 
porch  extends  to  the  front  and  makes  room  for  an  entrance  and  two 
offices  on  the  first  floor.  There  are  two  lines  of  steps,  one  on  each 
side  of  tbe  offices. 

The  Men's  Almshouse  was  located  in  the  wings  of  this  build- 
ing, the  center  being  appropriated  for  dining  rooms,  clothes  room 
and  offices  on  the  first  floor,  and  for  the  offices  of  the  Board  and 
Superintendent  on  the  second.  The  Doctor's  dining-room,  kitchen, 
etc.,  are  located  in  the  rear  of  the  third.  The  rest  of  that  floor, 
together  with  the  attic,  is  used  as  apartments  for  the  Superintend- 
ent and  the  domestics  required  in  that  part  of  the  House. 

The  Women's  Almshouse  was  directly  opposite  the  depart- 
ment for  males,  running  parallel  to  it  on  the  northwestern  side  of 
the  quadrangle. 


136  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

At  right  angles  to  these  buildings,  starting  at  about  loo  feet 
beyond  the  ends  of  them,  were  located  the  Hospital  on  one  side 
and  the  House  of  Emploj^ment  on  the  other.  The  four  main 
structures  were  about  500  feet  in  length  and  60  feet  in  depth. 
Stone  walls  connected  the  buildings,  so  that  the  interior  space  was 
inclosed.  Streets,  walks,  courtyards,  etc.,  were  provided  within 
the  inclosure,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  inmates,  and  the 
departments  were  separated  by  walls  supplied  with  large  gates, 
on  the  line  of  the  streets,  to  admit  of  the  passage  of  wagons, 
carts,  etc. 

The  interior  of  the  Almshouses  was  arranged  to  have  two  tiers 
of  small  rooms  or  cells  in  each  ward,  so  that  each  inmate  would 
have  a  private  sleeping  room.  This  was  the  dormitory  plan  that 
was  recommended  by  the  steward  of  the  New  York  Almshouse  and 
which  caused  much  discussion,  the  altering  of  the  plans,  the  halt- 
ing of  the  work  and  additional  expense  for  construction. 

These  little  "  cubbies  "  were  built  on  the  side  of  the  wards, 
one  tier  over  the  other ;  were  only  about  six  feet  deep  and  five  feet 
wide  ;  were  not  properly  ventilated,  became  dirt  holes  and  had  a 
decidedly  foul  smell  after  a  few  years'  use. 

A  ferry  was  established  to  carry  passengers  across  the  Schuyl- 
kill from  South  Street  on  the  City  side  to  the  wharf  on  the  Alms- 
house grounds.  A  large  batteaux  was  used  for  this  purpose  and  a 
small  fare  was  charged  for  the  service.  This  was  a  great  conveni- 
ence for  the  down  town  people,  as  it  saved  the  trip  up  to  the  bridge 
at  Market  Street. 

A  bank  had  been  constructed  around  the  river  front  to  protect 
the  meadow  land  ;  sluice  gates  were  placed  in  the  bank,  to  be 
opened  at  high  tide  in  the  winter  season,  to  flood  the  meadow  for 
the  purpose  of  obtaining  a  crop  of  ice  for  the  use  of  the  institution. 

The  grounds  were  inclosed  by  a  wooden  fence,  and  the  main 
entrance  was  on  Darby  Road  (now  Woodland  Avenue).  A  small 
house  was  erected  close  by  the  gate,  in  which  the  gatekeeper 
resided. 

The  graveyard  was  located  in  the  northeastern  portion  of  the 
grounds.     It  was  inclosed  and  was  under  the  charge  of  the  ferry- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  137 

man.  It  was  the  cause  of  much  scandal  in  connection  with  the 
history  of  the  Almshouse  and  the  "  Board  of  Buzzards,"  as  the 
Guardians  were  at  one  time  termed. 

The  large  stone  barn  and  farm  house  were  erected  on  a  high 
plot  of  ground  in  1836,  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  The  farm  house  has 
been  used  as  a  children's  asylum  for  a  few  years,  while  the  old 
barn  had  to  be  removed  to  accommodate  the  University  of  Penn- 
sylvania a  short  time  ago. 

A  school  room  was  fitted  up  in  the  southeastern  end  of  the 
Hospital  building  for  the  use  of  the  children.  It  was  upon  the 
plan  of  the  infant  schools  of  the  city ;  teachers  were  employed, 
and  the  reports  say  :  "  The  children  have  made  as  much  progress 
in  learning  as  could  reasonably  be  expected  from  pupils  under 
similar  circumstances." 

On  February  6th,  1837,  the  Commissioners  informed  the 
Guardians  that  they  had  actually  paid  on  account  of  the  erection 
of  the  new  Almshouse, $845,088.30 

Paid  for  the  Farm,     ......  51, 716. 94 

"     on  account  of  Guardians  during  Cholera,      .  1,166.32 

*'     Interest  on  Copper  Bill,      ....  2,016.44 

$899,988.00 
Yet  due  on  Bills  rendered,         ....  2,182.10 

$902,170.10 

They  could  not  state  the  amount  that  would  be  required  to 
finish  the  work. 

The  first  steward  of  "  Blockley,"  as  the  institution  was  gener- 
ally called,  was  Mr.  William  S.  Stockton.  In  November,  1836 
the  Board  advertised  for  applicants  to  fill  the  position,  but  they  did 
not  succeed  in  finding  a  suitable  person;  so  Mr.  Stockton  was 
retained,  although  he  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  Board.  Mrs. 
Sibbert  was  the  first  Matron  elected. 

The  name  Blockley  Almshouse  was  usually  applied  to  the 
establishment.  There  are  many  people  who  do  not  know  that  it 
took  that  name  because  it  was  located  in  Blockle}^  Township.  An 
old  woman  went  to  the  House,  under  the  influence  of  liquor,  one 


138  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

evening  a  few  years  ago.  She  wanted  to  be  admitted  to  the  Hos- 
pital, but  the  doctor  who  examined  her  found  that  she  did  not 
require  any  medical  treatment  and  refused  to  assign  her  to  the 
sick  wards.  She  became  very  indignant  and  exclaimed  very  loudly, 
"I'd  have  you  to  know  that  Mr.  Blockley  left  his   money  for  the 

benefit  of  us  poor  people  and  not  for  a  lot  of  you  d doctors  and 

the  white  caps."  She  applied  the  term  "  white  caps  "  to  the  nurses 
in  the  Hospital,  and  it  is  evident  that  she  thought  that  "  Mr. 
Blockley  "  was  a  man  something  like  Stephen  Girard. 


CHAPTER    XII. 

HOW   BLOCKLEY   GOT   ITS   NAME. 

IN  connection  with  the  name,  it  may  be  of  interest  to  state  how 
the  township  got  the  name.  An  article  published  in  a  news- 
paper many  years  ago  stated  : 

"  The  first  white  settler  west  of  the  Schuylkill  and  within 
the  limits  of  the  present  city  of  Philadelphia  was  Mr.  William 
Warner.  This  gentleman  was  a  captain  in  the  army  of  01i\^er 
Cromwell.  He  was  a  zealous  and  devoted  friend  of  the  Lord  Pro- 
tector and  particularly  obnoxious  to  the  royalists.  After  the  death 
of  Cromwell  in  1658  and  the  restoration  of  the  Stuarts,  Warner 
was  compelled  to  fly  from  his  native  country  in  order  to  save  his 
head.  The  American  wilderness  was  then  the  principal  refuge  of 
the  hunted  lovers  of  liberty,  and  hither  the  Puritan  captain  was 
glad  to  escape. 

"  Before  the  arrival  of  Captain  Warner,  the  only  white  set- 
tlers who  had  penetrated  to  the  region  of  the  Schuylkill  were  the 
adventurous  Swedes.  Warner  pitched  his  tent  on  the  west  bank  of 
the  Schuylkill,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  present  Girard  Avenue  bridge 
or  a  little  north  of  that  locality.  The  precise  spot  cannot  now  be 
determined ;  but  it  is  certain  that  the  Captain  obtained  possession 
of  an  extensive  tract  of  land  in  that  beautiful  "  wild,''  to  which  he 
gave  the  name  of  "  Blockley,"  in  memory  of  the  happy  home  in 
Bngland  which  he  was  compelled  to  desert.  Twenty-four  years 
elapsed  after  the  arrival  of  Warner  before  the  emigrants  who  came 
to  settle  Pennsylvania  under  the  grant  to  William  Penn  reached 
the  vicinity  of  the  Puritan  soldier's  cabin.  Two  years  afterward 
(1684),  William  Penn  confirmed  the  title  of  Captain  Warner  to  the 
land  he  occupied. 

"  For  twenty  years  the  old  soldier  was  alone  in  the  wilderness  , 
or,  rather,  he  was  the  solitary  white  man  who  resided  there  and 
communicated  to  the  Indians  ideas  of  the  races  and  civilizations 
beyond  the  sea. 

139 


140  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

*'  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  we  have  no  record  of  his  mode  of 
life,  his  adventures,  and  his  strange  experience  in  his  woodland 
home  before  the  advent  of  the  Quaker  colonists. 

''Subsequent  to  that  event  Captain  Warner  became  possessed 
of  great  wealth  and  obtained  social  and  political  influence.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  organizing  the  first  provincial  government 
of  Pennsylvania,  served  as  a  justice  of  the  court  and  was  elected  a 
member  of  the  first  Assembly  chosen  under  the  rule  of  Governor 
William  Penn. 

"  Captain  Warner  died  at  his  residence  in  Blockley  in  the  year 
1706,  and  was  greatly  lamented.  He  retained  and  exercised  the 
stern  virtues  of  the  Puritans  throughout  his  career,  was  energetic 
and  determined  in  the  maintenance  of  his  convictions  and  com- 
manded respect  by  the  strength  and  purity  of  his  character. 

"  During  the  latter  part  of  his  life  he  expressed  his  approval 
of  the  peace  principles  of  the  Society  of  Friends. 

"  A  number  of  the  descendants  of  the  captain  still  reside  upon 
the  land  which  their  ancestor  acquired,  but  few  or  none  of  them 
bear  his  name.  Some  of  his  descendants  may  be  found  in  Bucks 
County.  If  the  material  for  a  full  biography  could  be  collected 
the  life  of  the  pioneer  of  the  Schuylkill  would  be  a  most  remarka- 
ble contribution  to  our  local  history.  Our  sketch  is  merely  to 
explain  the  origin  of  Blockley." 

When  the  new  Almshouse  and  House  of  Employment  had 
been  erected  at  such  cost  it  was  deemed  necessary  to  utilize  the 
pauper  labor  at  the  earliest  moment,  and  arrangements  were  made 
accordingly.  The  Committee  reported  in  August,  1836,  that  the 
profits  of  the  factory  during  a  single  quarter  reache'd  the  sum  of 
$549.20.  The  report  further  said:  "Your  Committee  would 
remark,  that  if  their  exertions  to  compel  all  males  and  females  in 
this  institution  to  work,  who  may  be  capable  of  working,  were 
seconded  by  the  Hospital  and  House  Committees,  as  well  as  by  the 
steward  and  matron,  the  just  expectations  of  the  public,  of  produc- 
ing beneficial  results  by  the  establishment  of  an  extensive  House 
of  Employment  will  not  be  disappointed,  and  our  lazy,  intemperate 
vagrants  and  paupers  will  become  convinced  by  experience  that  an 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  141 

Almshouse  is  no  place  iii  which  they  will  any  longer  be  permitted 
to  indulge  their  idle,  vicious  habits,  and  that  it  is  just  as  eas}^  to 
work  in  mechanics'  shops  in  the  City  and  Liberties  and  enjoy  their 
liberty,  as  it  is  to  be  confined  within  these  walls  and  be  compelled 
to  work  in  our  factory." 

At  this  time  the  question  of  dependent  foreigners  was  a  very 
serious  one;  the  Almshouses  throughout  the  country  were  bur- 
dened with  them,  and  the  United  States  authorities  attempted  to 
correct  the  abuse.  Hon.  Levi  Woodbury,  Secretary  of  the  Trea- 
sury, communicated  with  the  Boards  of  Guardians  and  Overseers 
of  the  Poor  in  reference  to  the  deportation  of  paupers  from  foreign 
countries. 

The  Guardians,  through  a  committee,  made  a  thorough  exam- 
ination of  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse  and  endeavored  to  get 
some  proofs  to  substantiate  the  charge  that  they  had  been  sent  to 
this  country  by  the  authorities  of  their  homes. 

That  is  a  useless  task.  It  is  impossible  to  get  a  pauper  of 
that  kind  to  tell  the  truth  about  the  matter.  They  are  afraid  of 
being  sent  back.  It  was  the  case  then,  is  so  now,  and  probably 
will  always  be  so. 

In  reply  to  his  inquiries  the  Board  sent  to  Mr.  Woodburj^  the 
following  report,  made  to  the  Guardians  by  their  committee,  under 
date  of  November,  1836  : 

"  Your  committee  report  that,  having  caused  an  examination 
to  be  made  of  the  foreign  paupers  in  the  House,  they  have  not 
been  able  to  ascertain  that  any  had  been  sent  to  this  country  or  to 
the  British  provinces  by  Overseers  of  the  Poor  in  Bngland  or  else- 
where, or  had  received  any  aid  from  any  parish  to  enable  them  to 
emigrate. 

"  The  only  information  having  any  relation  to  the  subject  of 
inquiry  derived  from  their  examination  is,  that  the  practice  of 
sending  away  paupers  chargeable  to  parishes,  by  parochial  aid,  is 
quite  common  in  England,  and  that  many  have  been  sent  in  that 
way.  This  practice,  however,  as  far  as  they  profess  to  be  informed 
is  confined  to  emigration  to  the  British  settlements. 

"  Your  committee  would  here  remark  that  there  is  great  diffi- 


142  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

culty  in  procuring  from  a  pauper  any  information  which  might 
affect  himself,  and  that,  should  there  be  in  the  House  any  person 
who  had  been  sent,  either  to  this  country  or  the  British  settlements, 
by  parochial  aid,  the  apprehension  that  he  would  be  discharged 
from  the  House  upon  the  fact  being  known,  would  induce  him  to 
conceal  it.  The  reports  of  the  Poor  Law  Commissioners  of  Eng- 
land furnish  some  information  as  to  the  deportation  of  paupers 
from  that  country.  In  the  instructions  of  these  Commissioners  to 
their  agents  in  different  districts,  the  attention  of  those  agents  is 
particularly  directed  to  emigration  as  one  mode  of  relieving  the 
parishes  of  their  superabundant  poor  population,  and  thereby 
reducing  the  poor  rates.  They  speak  of  emigration  generally,  and 
do  not  confine  it  to  the  British  settlements. 

"  So,  in  some  of  the  reports  made  by  these  agents  to  the  Com- 
missioners, deportation  of  paupers,  by  means  of  parochial  aid,  is 
mentioned  as  having  taken  place,  without  naming  the  country  to 
which  they  have  been  sent. 

"  In  some  reports  the  British  provinces  in  North  America  are 
mentioned  as  their  places  of  destination,  and  from  one  report  it 
appears  that  four  families  had  been  sent  from  the  parish  of  Rye  to 
New  York. 

"  These  reports  comprise  but  few  of  the  parishes  of  England 
and  Wales,  not  more  than  two  hundred  parishes  out  of  fifteen 
thousand ;  and  therefore,  while  they  establish  the  fact  that  paupers 
have  been  sent  from  England  to  the  United  States,  as  well  as  to 
the  British  settlements,  they  do  not  show  the  extent  to  which  this 
practice  may  have  prevailed  in  that  kingdom. 

"  From  the  examination  made  of  the  inmates  of  the  House, 
the  committee  have  ascertained  that  one  guinea  was  paid  to  each  of 
the  paupers  brought  by  one  vessel  to  Quebec,  upon  their  landing  at 
that  place ;  that  in  some  instances  one  hundred  acres  of  land  were 
offered  to  each  of  the  paupers,  which  offer  the  majority  of  them 
declined.  In  other  instances  no  provision  was  made  for  their  sup- 
port, and  they  subsequently  found  their  wa}^  into  the  United  States. 

"  Among  the  paupers  in  this  House  there  are  several  persons 
who  have  been  pensioners  of  the  government  of  Great  Britain, 


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History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  143 

and  their  being  in  this  country  is  attributable  partly  to  the  agency 
of  that  government." 

The  conditions  in  those  days  were  about  the  same  as  they  are 
now.  There  have  always  been  more  foreigners  supported  in  the 
Almshouses  than  Americans,  and  so  long  as  the  passage  costs  less 
than  the  continual  support,  just  that  long  will  other  countries 
endeavor  to  dump  their  paupers  on  American  shores. 

The  Board  of  Guardians  consisted  of  Messrs.  George  W. 
Jones,  John  Hemphill,  William  S.  Hansell,  John  Price  Wetherill, 
Isaac  N.  Marselis,  Peter  A.  Keyser,  John  L.  Wooly,  Michael  Day, 
John  Keefe,  Isaac  Collins,  Bela  Badger  and  Joseph  B.  Smith. 

These  were  all  well  known  citizens  and  commanded  the  respect 
of  the  community. 

It  is  very  pleasant  to  find  that  after  all  the  misunderstandings 
and  fault-finding,  the  labors  of  the  "Commissioners  for  Erecting 
Buildings  for  the  Accommodation  of  the  Poor  "  ended  in  the  most 
pleasant  manner,  on  the  28th  day  of  August,  1837,  ^^^  the  records 
show  the  high  regard  that  the  two  Boards  entertained  for  each 
other. 

Mr.  B.  W.  Keyser,  President  of  the  Commissioners,  sent  a 
communication  to  the  Board  of  Guardians  informing  that  body  that 
"  They  had  fulfilled  the  duties  of  their  appointment  in  the  erection 
of  the  Buildings  for  the  Accommodation  of  the  Poor,  and  to  the 
best  of  their  ability  completed  everything  delegated  to  them  under 
the  Law  whence  they  derive  their  power. 

"  That  they  hereby  resign  their  functions  and  have  agreed  to 
dissolve  the  Board,  not,  however,  without  expressing  the  hope 
that  they  have  the  entire  approbation  of  the  Board  of  Guardians 
of  the  Poor  for  their  best  endeavors. 

"  That  the  accounts  and  vouchers  they  most  cheerfully  submit 
for  the  examination  of  the  Board  at  any  moment  they  may  desire 
them. 

"  That  he  is  further  instructed  to  return  the  thanks  of  the 
members  to  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  for  their  cordial 
co-operation  at  all  times  during  the  progress  of  the  work,  and  for 
the  gentlemanly  deportment  experienced  at  their  hands." 


144  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

After  the  communication  was  read  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Guardians,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  "  That  tlie  President  of 
this  Board  be  requested  to  notify  the  Commissioners  that  their 
resignations  are  accepted,  and  also  to  convey  to  the  said  Building 
Commissioners  the  thanks  of  this  Board  for  the  attention  they 
have  bestowed  to  the  duties  entrusted  to  them." 

The  Commissioners  had  performed  their  labors ;  they  had 
been  in  existence  nine  years,  although  many  changes  had  taken 
place  in  its  membership  since  its  organization.  Only  four  of  the 
original  twelve  remained  on  the  Board,  one  having  died  and  seven 
having  resigned. 

No  suspicion  of  jobbery  or  peculation  was  ever  attached  to  the 
proceedings  of  the  Commissioners  ;  no  desire  was  ever  expressed 
for  their  abolition.  They  did  their  work  on  a  grand  scale,  and 
Philadelphia  received,  as  the  result  of  their  labors,  one  of  the  best 
and  most  commodious  Almshouses  that  could  be  found  in  the  United 
States  at  that  period. 

When  it  is  considered  that  these  buildings  were  erected  to  ac- 
commodate the  people  of  only  a  portion  of  the  county  of  Philadel- 
phia it  will  be  seen  that  they  were  sufficiently  large  for  the  purpose. 

The  other  districts  and  townships  in  the  county  were  com- 
pelled to  rely  upon  the  Overseer  system  of  relief,  or  else  build  alms- 
houses for  their  own  use.     Several  districts  pursued  that  course. 

"  The  Directors  of  the  Poor  and  of  the  House  of   Employ 
meutfor  the  Townships  of  Oxford  and  Lower  Dublin,  of  Philadel- 
phia County,"  were  given  authority  under  the  Act  of  April  nth, 
1807,  to  establish  an  Almshouse,  and  a  farm  of  145  acres  was  pur- 
chased and  buildings  were  erected  for  the  purpose. 

A  corporation  was  created  in  1809,  entitled  "  The  Managers 
for  the  Relief  and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  Township  of 
Germantown  in  the  County  of  Philadelphia." 

A  lot  of  ground  containing  20  acres  was  purchased  and  an 
Almshouse  was  established. 

The  "  Guardians  of  the  Poor  of  Bristol  Township  "  were  in- 
corporated in  1823,  with  authority  to  purchase  ground  and  to  erect 
a  "  Poorhouse." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  145 

The  Township  of  Roxborough.  was  authorized  to  build  a 
"  Poorhouse "  in  1837.  The  Borough  of  Manayunk  was  united 
with  the  Township,  and  the  Almshouse  grounds  embraced  20  acres. 

Moyamensing  also  established  an  Almshouse,  in  the  early  part 
of  the  century,  on  Irish  Tract  Lane,  below  the  present  Fitzwater 
street.  The  buildings  were  of  brick  and  several  acres  of  ground 
were  enclosed. 

The  report  of  the  Auditing  Committee  showed : 

Amouut  paid  to  order  of  Commissioners l9°9)733  38 

"        expemlcd — For  purchase  of  ground 5')7i6  94 

"                "              "     erection  of  buildings  .    .    .    .   • 857,969  75 

"        of  total  expenditures 909,686  69 

"        Unexpended  balance  returned • 46  69 

Stone  quarried  by  paupers — 

5741  cubic  yards,  used  on  roads,  @,  75 4,30S  75 

1500  perch,  used  in  Barn  and  Walls,  @  88    - 1,320  00 

Stone  used  for  other  purposes,  valued  at 1,500  00 

Total  valuation |7,i25  75 

The  collection  of  "  Head  money  "  on  arriving  emigrants  was 
an  important  item  of  the  receipts  of  the  Board  of  Guardians.  This 
was  collected  under  the  authority  of  Law,  and  was,  in  a  manner, 
an  insurance  against  the  emigrants  becoming  dependent  upon 
charity.  Prior  to  1832  the  amount  collected  was  $2.50  per  head; 
it  was  then  reduced  to  $1.50  on  each  one  arriving.  The  owners 
and  consignees  of  the  ships  that  brought  them  frequently  endeav- 
ored to  evade  the  payment  of  this  tax,  and  suits  were  entered, 
against  them  in  consequence.  One  case  that  caused  considerable 
discussion  was  that  of  "  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  versus  The 
Master,  Owners  and  Consignees  of  the  ship  St.  Cloud,"  A  writ 
was  issued,  claiming  $14,100  as  the  amount  of  penalties  due  to  the 
Board,  and  the  Sheriff  took  possession  of  the  ship. 

The  consignees  entered  bonds,  signed  by  Samuel  Grant,  Dex- 
ter Stone  and  George  Fales,  for  the  payment  of  any  penalties  that 
might  be  adj  udged  against  them. 

The  testimony  showed  that  the  ship  was  entered  at  Wilming- 
ton, Del.,  although  no  part  of  the  cargo  was  intended  to  be  deliv- 
ered there,  and  a  portion  was  intended  for  and  consigned  to  a  mer- 
10 


146  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

chant  in  Philadelphia.  The  ship  without  actually  entering  the 
port  of  Wilmington,  breaking  bulk,  or  securing  the  duties  on  the 
cargo  there,  proceeded  to  Philadelphia. 

The  "  Head  money"  on  i88  passengers  was  paid  to  the  Trus- 
tees of  the  Poor  at  Wilmington,  and  a  license  given  to  land  the 
passengers  at  that  place.  All  the  passengers,  however,  were  not 
landed ;  neither  were  they  at  any  time  in  Wilmington  or  its  vicin- 
ity ;  they  were  received  on  a  steamboat  from  the  ship  lying  in  the 
Delaware  River. 

They  were  then  taken  to  Quarryville,  a  place  on  the  river  a 
few  miles  from  Wilmington,  where  they  stopped  a  few  minutes, 
and  were  then  transported  to  Philadelphia.  The  steamboat  was 
unable  to  take  all  of  the  passengers  upon  the  one  trip  ;  the  remain- 
der were  taken  on  the  down  run  and  conveyed  to  Wilmington,  not 
for  the  purpose  of  landing  them,  but  to  remain  a  short  time,  so  as 
to  run  them  up  to  Philadelphia  and  land  them  at  nighty  as  the 
others  had  been  landed. 

The  consignors  proposed  a  compromise,  which  was  accepted  by 
the  Board,  and  the  case  was  settled. 

The  records  showed  the  amounts  collected  were : 


3r  year  en 

ding  May 

1829, 
1830, 

1831, 

1832, 
1833, 

1834, 

\, 

1835, 
1836, 

1837, 

86,457-50 
4,217.50 

9>544.50 
9,129.50 
5,248.50 
3,988.00 
4,635.00 
2,533-50 
3,174-50 


■  Making  a  total  in  nine  years 148,928.50 

John  Sergeant,  Esq.,  Solicitor,  was  asked  for  his  opinion  as  to 
the  construction  of  the  Act  of  Assembly  in  regard  to  the  "Head 
money  "  on  foreign  emigrants.  He  replied  that  he  thought  the 
"  Guardians  could  elect  between  imposing  a  tax  of  two  dollars  and 
a  half  upon  each  passenger  and  taking  security  that  such  passenger 
would  not  become  chargeable." 

The  minute  books  show  some  very  queer  cases  that  were 
referred   to   the    Board  of  Guardians   for  consideration.     In  fact, 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  147 

women  would  "  throw  themselves  on  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  '' 
for  satisfaction  and  redress  under  some  peculiar  circumstances. 

The  following  report  of  one  of  the  committees  will  serve  to 
illustrate  the  character  of  some  of  their  little  schemes. 

The  communication  of  John  Enhart,  charged  by  Eliza  Worl 
with  being  the  father  of  a  child  of  which  she  had  been  delivered, 
had  been  referred  to  a  committee,  and  the  report  said  :  "  The  said 
Eliza  Worl  is  a  married  woman,  with  a  family  of  children  and  a 
husband  in  the  United  States  service,  and  who  was  at  that  time 
stationed  at  the  Lazaretto,  and  who  was  in  the  constant  practice  of 
coming  to  see  her,  all  of  which  facts  she  states  herself;  and  your 
committee  are  of  opinion  that  it  would  be  very  difficult  to  convict  a 
man  of  being  the  father  of  a  child  by  a  married  woman  under  such 
circumstances  ;  and  that  it  would  be  improper  at  all  times  to  take 
any  action  that  would  encourage  married  women  to  charge  other 
men  than  their  husbands  of  being  the  fathers  of  any  children  they 
may  have ;  and  that  this  Board  ought  at  all  times  discourage  all 
proceedings  that  would  bastardize  the  children  of  married  people  ; 
and  inasmuch  as  Eliza  Worl  has  acknowledged  that  her  husband 
was  in  the  habit  of  visiting  her,  the  child  is  as  likely  to  be  his  as 
any  other  person's." 

The  Board  declined  to  take  any  action  in  the  matter.  As  there 
is  nothing  said  of  any  movement  on  the  part  of  the  "injured  hus- 
band," it  might  be  inferred  that  he  was  in  a  conspiracy  with  his 
virtuous  wife  to  extort  money  from  the  victim  of  the  plot. 

The  panic  of  1837  reduced  thousands  of  persons  from  affluence 
to  poverty,  and  but  for  the  Almshouse  and  the  relief  extended  by 
the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  many  would  have  starved.  Workmen 
could  not  obtain  employment  and  much  suffering  was  the  result. 
The  charitable  nature  of  those  who  could  assist  by  contributions 
was  again  made  manifest,  and  many  were  helped  without  the  cases 
being  made  public. 

On  July  2d,  1838,  the  Board  of  Guardians  received  a  commu- 
nication from  the  Commissioners  of  the  Township  of  Moyameu- 
sing,  expressing  the  opinion  of  that  Board,  "  That  any  arrange- 
ment the  parties  interested  can  agree  upon,  by  which  the  Poor  laws 


148  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshonses  and  Hospitals. 

of  the  County  of  Philadelphia  can  be  made  general,  equal  and  uni- 
form, and  the  poor  of  this  Township  be  united  with  those  of  the 
City  and  the  Districts  interested  in  the  Almshouse  at  Blockley, 
would  be  greatly  beneficial  to  the  Township  and  to  the  citizens  of 
Philadelphia  generally."  They  notified  the  Guardians  that  they 
had  appointed  a  committee  to  wait  upon  them  to  arrange  for  a 
conference  in  relation  to  the  subject. 

In  August,  1839,  it  was  discovered  that  it  cost  no  less  than 
$10,000  per  annum  to  maintain  the  table  for  the  Steward  and  the 
Resident  Physicians,  The  Guardians  were  astounded,  and  resolu- 
tions were  adopted  to  abolish  that  expensive  supply  and  to  make 
an  addition  to  the  Steward's  salary  of  $500  per  annum  in  lieu 
thereof.  The  Resident  Physicians  paid  the  sum  of  $250  for  the 
privilege  of  serving  in  the  Hospital  for  the  term  of  one  year.  It 
was  now  changed  to  $125,  and  to  pay  for  their  board  $50.  They 
were  compelled  to  board  outside  of  the  institution  for  a  short  time 
after  the  discovery  of  the  cost  was  made. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  manner  in 
which  meats  had  been  issued  during  the  year,  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Steward,  and  it  was  found  that  no  less  than  fifty-four 
thousand  pounds  of  meats  were  unaccounted  for. 

The  committee  reported  :  ^'  That,  after  a  tedious  and  careful 
examination  of  the  Steward's  statements,  and  making  the  most 
liberal  allowances  that  could  reasonably  be  claimed,  by  adding  the 
largest  number  of  men,  at  the  longest  period  that  said  men  were 
employed,  the  whole  amounting  to  704  persons,  who  were  13 10 
days  receiving  extra  rations,  and,  if  deducted  from  the  true  census, 
leaves  622  persons  entitled  to  ordinary  rations.  The  accompany, 
ing  account  current,  made  from  above  statement,  shows  a  deficiency 
of  54,523^  pounds  of  meats  for  the  past  year,  after  deducting 
four  per  cent,  for  draft,  amounting  to  10,657  pounds,  allowing  for 
bones,  sixty  pounds  per  week,  or  3120  pounds  per  annum. 

"  The  committee  further  report,  that  in  the  statements  number 
3  and  4,  it  is  shown  by  the  Steward  that  9795  pounds  of  meat  were 
used  more  than  were  used  during  the  preceding  year,  and  the  com- 
mittee are  satisfied  that  the  population  was  112  less  than  during 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  149 

the  previous  fiscal  year.  They  take  the  census  from  an  examina- 
tion of  the  books.  The  above  112  persons,  by  an  equal  average, 
would  be  entitled  to  13,104  pounds  of  meat  during  the  year,  \\'hich 
being  added  to  the  9795  pounds,  makes  the  aggregate  of  22,899 
pounds,  this  being  the  excess  of  meats  used  during  the  la"st  over 
the  preceding  year." 

vShortly  after  this  report  was  made,  the  time  to  elect  the  Stew- 
ard and  other  officials  arrived.  Six  members  voted  for  the  re-elec- 
tion of  Mr.  Stockton,  as  Steward,  and  it  seemed  as  if  they  were 
determined  to  sustain  him  whether  he  was  right  or  wrong. 

A  number  of  ballots  were  taken,  and,  as  no  person  received  a 
majority  of  the  votes,  it  was  found  to  be  impossible  to  elect  a  Stew- 
ard at  that  meeting,  and  the  old  Steward  was  instructed  by  a  reso- 
lution to  continue  to  perform  the  duties  of  the  office  until  a  suc- 
cessor could  be  elected. 

The  gentlemen  who  voted  for  Mr.  Stockton  were  John  Price 
Wetherill,  Peter  A.  Keyser,  William  S.  Hansell,  John  Keefe, 
Michael  Andress  and  John  Hemphill,  and  as  they  were  all  citizens 
of  standing  in  the  community  there  must'  have  been  some  reason 
for  their  action,  although  it  was  not  explained  in  the  minutes. 
Mr.  Stockton  continued  to  serve  four  years  under  the  resolution, 
notwithstanding  there  was  strong  opposition  to  his  continuance 
during  all  that  time.  The  Guardians  did  not  succeed  in  electing  a 
Steward  until  1843,  when  Mr.  Daniel  Smith  was  chosen  for  the 
position. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

SECRETARY  AND  TREASURER  DEFAULTERS— REPORT  ON  CAUSE  OF 

PAUPERISM. 

A  SUPPLEMENT  to  the  Act  entitled  "  An  Act  for  the  Relief 
and  Employment  of  the  Poor  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
the    District     of     Southwark    and    the     Townships     of 
Northern  Liberties  and  Penn,"  was  passed  and  approved 
January  15th,  1840. 

This  repealed  so  much  of  the  act  as  prohibited  the  granting 
of  outdoor  relief  in  money,  under  certain  conditions.  It  also  re- 
pealed the  act  relating  to  the  appointment  and  defining  the  duties 
of  Directors  of  Poor  Tax,  and  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  were 
authorized  to  "  borrow  money  and  levy  a  poor  tax  for  as  much  as  may 
be  necessary ;  provided,  that  such  tax  or  assessment  shall  not  exceed 
the  amount  now  laid  for  the  relief  and  employment  of  the  poor." 
President  J.  B.  Smith  called  a  special  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Guardians  on  January  30th,  1841,  at  which  he  made  the  following 
statement :  "  Erom  an  examination  of  the  receipts  of  emigrant 
money,  it  appears  that  Mr.  Alexander  Wentz,  the  Secretary  of  this 
Board,  has  neglected  to  pay  over  to  the  Treasurer  more  than  six 
thousand  dollars  received  by  him  during  the  years  1838,  1839  and 
1840;  that  he  had  not  paid  upwards  of  $500,  admitted  by  him  to 
have  been  received  from  the  sale  of  tickets  to  the  clinical  lectures 
about  the  first  of  last  December ;  that  it  had  also  been  discovered 
on  that  very  day,  that  the  Secretary  had  presented  to  the  Bank 
and  received  the  money  for  three  checks  drawn  by  the  Treasurer, 
and  left  with  the  Secretary  to  be  delivered  to  the  persons  in  whose 
favor  they  were  drawn.  The  checks  were :  One  for  $600,  drawn 
payable  to  the  order  of  John  Friend ;  one  for  $195.25,  drawn  pay- 
able to  the  order  of  John  Price  Wetherill ;  and  one  for  $151.00, 
also  drawn  to  the  order  of  John  Price  Wetherill ;  that  he  had  called 
the  meeting  at  the  earliest  moment  after  the  discovery  of  these 
things  for  the  purpose  of  taking  into  considerarion  the  deficit  and 
determining  upon  what  measures  should  be  adopted." 
150 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  151 

The  Board  directed  the  solicitor  to  bring  suit  forthwith  against 
Mr.  Wentz  and  his  surety  ;  and  summoned  the  Secretary  to  appear 
before  the  Board  at  9  o'clock  on  the  next  morning. 

Mr.  Wentz  appeared  as  requested,  and  was  asked  to  explain 
the  deficit  that  appeared  on  his  books  ;  to  inform  the  Board  as  to 
the  manner  he  had  disposed  of  the  money  he  had  neglected  to  turn 
over,  and  which  he  had  drawn  from  the  bank ;  and  what  amount 
he  had  in  his  possession  or  under  his  control.  Mr.  Wentz  made 
a  statement  which  appeared  to  the  Board  to  be  false  and  contra- 
dictory, and  the  sheriff  was  instructed  to  execute  forthwith  the 
capias  in  his  hands.  Arrangements  were  made  for  pressing  the 
suit  against  Mr.  Wentz  and  his  bondsman,  Mr.  John  L-  Wolf,  the 
solicitor  being  assisted  by  William  M.  Meredith,  Esq.  New^  orders 
were  drawn  for  the  payment  of  those  persons  whose  checks  had 
been  used  by  the  Secretary,  and  the  official  was  turned  over  to  the 
Court. 

Shortly  after  this  occurred  it  was  discovered  that  the  trusted 
Treasurer  of  the  Board  was  more  than  $26,000  short  in  his  accounts. 
Suit  was  immediately  entered  against  him  and  his  suret}^,  and 
eventually  the  Board  secured  almost  the  entire  sum  of  his  defal- 
cation. 

It  appears  that  even  in  the  "  good  old  days  "  some  men  who 
could  not  resist  temptation  fell  by  the  wayside. 

The  increase  in  population  in  the  Almshouses  was  a  subject 
of  much  thought  and  discussion.  It  was  thought  that  if  the  causes 
of  pauperism  were  known  some  steps  might  be  taken  to  check  it, 
at  least,  if  it  could  not  be  entirely  halted.  To  arrive  at  a  full 
knowledge  to  enable  those  persons  interested  to  successfully  grap- 
ple with  the  subject,  communications  were  sent  to  the  various 
Boards  of  Guardians  and  Overseers  of  the  Poor,  requesting 
such  information  as  they  might  be  able  to  furnish.  In  order 
to  make  the  proper  reply  to  the  inquiries  propounded  the 
Guardians  instructed  the  House  agent  at  "  Blockley "  to  secure 
certain  data  for  them,  and  in  compliance  with  the  order  he  sub- 
mitted the  following  instructive  report  to  the  Board  on  August 
2,  1841  : 


152  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  In  obedience  to  the  resolution  of  the  Board  of  Guardians 
'  making  it  the  duty  of  the  House  agent  to  ascertain  and  report 
the  number  of  paupers  who  have  been  brought  to  misfortune  by- 
intemperance  and  vice,'  the  agent  respectfully  reports  that 
he  has  attended  to  the  duty  assigned  him,  and  has  devoted  all 
the  time  he  could  spare  from  other  duties  to  a  personal  exami- 
nation of  the  Inmates  of  the  House,  throughout  the  different 
wards,  that  he  has  availed  himself  of  all  the  information  on 
which  he  could  rely,  has  collected  every  fact  within  his  reach, 
and  has  endeavored  to  condense  the  whole,  and  now  presents 
the  following  summary  which  he  believes  to  be  substantially 
correct : 

"  '  The  population  of  the  House  may  be  taken  at  about  1400, 
of  which  550  are  adult  males  (not  including  Lunatics),  470  females, 
150  children,  90  Insane  males,  98  Insane  females,  23  Epileptics 
and  24  Idiots. 

"  '  To  commence  with  the  Hospital :  Respecting  the  men's 
surgical  and  syphilitic  wards,  which  together  number  86  patients, 
it  may  be  said  that  there  is  not  one  temperate  person  in  them,  and 
that  lewdness  and  intemperance  have  pauperized  them  all. 

" '  Of  the  men's  medical  wards,  containing  56  adults,  40  are 
now,  or  have  been,  intemperate,  and  are  here  for  that  cause.  The 
remaining  16  are  temperate  at  present. 

"  '  Of  the  women's  surgical  and  syphilitic  wards,  containing 
40  patients,  only  10  are  believed  to  be  temperate.  Of  the  remainder 
it  may  be  said  that  lewdness  and  intemperance  have  brought  them 
to  the  House. 

" '  Of  the  women's  medical  wards,  containing  60  patients 
(including  the  colored  wards)  only  one-half  are  temperate,  and  of 
the  others  it  may  be  said  that  habits  of  intemperance  formerly 
indulged  in,  either  by  them  or  their  husbands,  have  caused  their 
poverty. 

"  '  It  follows,  then,  that  out  of  242  adults,  male  and  female, 
sick  in  the  hospital,  only  56  can  be  set  down  as  temperate,  and  that 
habits  of  lewdness  or  intemperance,  or  both,  were  the  causes  of 
their  poverty  and  suffering. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  153 

Men's   and   Women's  Almshouse. 

The  various  wards  of  the  men's  Almshouse,  containing  410 
adults,  have  only  48  who  can  be  put  down  as  temperate  in  their 
habits,  leaving  362  who  are  or  have  been  intemperate,  and  whose 
destitution  may  be  traced  to  that  cause. 

'"The  women's  Almshouse  contains  184,  of  whom  40  can  be 
set  down  as  temperate.  It  has  been  ascertained  that  at  least  20 
of  the  remaining  144  are  opium  eaters,  and  the  rest  are  intemperate. 
Of  many  of  these  it  should  be  stated  that  they  are,  or  have  been,' 
mothers  of  illegitimate  children.  Lewdness  and  intemperate  habits,' 
therefore,  may  have  been  the  cause  of  their  impoverishment. 

The  old  women's  Asylum  numbers  150,  the  great  majority 
of  whom  are  ^t  present  decent  and  orderly,  of  temperate  habits  and 
correct  deportment.     It  has  been  ascertained,  however,  that  they 
have  not  always  been  orderly  and  temperate,  their  moral  condition 
having  been  greatly  improved  during  the  last  few  years,  while  in 
this  House.     The  causes  of  their  misfortune  also  may  be  traced 
either  to  irregular  habits  in  themselves  or  others  with  whom  they 
were  immediately  connected  in  former  years.     There  are,  no  doubt, 
some  exceptions,  but  their  number  is  not  easy  to  determine.     Kl 
present  it  is  believed  that  50,  or  one-third  of  the  whole,  are  tem- 
perate, and  that  the  remainder  and  at  least  one-half  of  the  others  owe 
their  present  destitution  to  the  causes  above  stated  and  25  to  un- 
avoidable misfortune.     This  is  decidedly  the  best  part  of  the  House. 
The  men's  Lunatic   asylum   contains  at  present  about  90, 
one-half  of  whom  are  believed  to  be  temperate. 

"  '  The  women's  Lunatic  asylum  number  98,  and  about  the 
same,  if  not  a  greater  proportion,  are  and  have  been  of  temperate 
habits. 

Respecting  the  150  children  in  different  parts  of  the  House, 
It  may  be  said  that  they  are  generally  the  offspring  of  dissolute  and 
intemperate  parents,  who  in  very  many  cases  were  sent  to  the 
county  prison  while  their  children  were  sent  to  the  Almshouse,  or 
they  are  orphans,  made  so  by  the  premature  deaths  of  parents, 
occasioned  by  following  vicious  courses. 


154  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

'' '  In  conclusion — If  the  preceding  statements  are  correct,  it 
follows  that,  of  the  entire  adult  population,  only  330  persons  have 
any  claim  to  be  considered  temperate,  and  that  more  than  one-half 
of  them  have  only  recently  become  so,  if,  indeed,  they  are  reformed. 

"  '  The  moral  character  of  the  inmates  of  the  House  has,  how- 
ever, been  gradually  improving  for  the  last  few  years. 

"  '  The  friends  of  temperance  have  been  exerting  a  salutary 
influence  among  them,  and  the  amount  of  moral  and  religious 
instruction,  now  almost  daily  afforded,  has  greatly  increased.  A 
religious  association,  formed  in  the  house  about  two  years  since,  is 
still  in  existence  and  flourishing.  It  numbered  at  first  about  80 
members,  one-half  of  whom  left  the  House  and  gave  proof  of  their 
reformation  by  maintaining  themselves  out  of  it,  not  having 
returned.'  "    The  report  was  signed  by  William  H.  Stewart,  Agent. 

That  document  did  not  speak  very  highly  of  the  character 
of  the  paupers  of  that  period.  It  could  not  be  believed  that  the 
inmates  of  the  Almshouse  at  the  present  time  are  of  as  low  a 
grade,  taken  as  a  whole,  as  those  described,  although  there  are  many 
just  as  degraded. 

The  utter  lack  of  discipline  and  the  mismanagement  of  the 
institution  were  very  apparent  during  the  time  that  Steward  Stock- 
ton had  charge.  There  was  not  a  proper  supervision  of  the  inter- 
nal affairs  and  the  subordinate  officials  seemed  to  be  allowed  to  do 
as  they  saw  fit.  If  the  Steward  possessed  the  authority  he  should 
have  had,  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that  he  had,  the  abuses  that 
existed  could  not  have  continued  if  proper  vigilance  had  been 
exercised.  There  appeared  to  be  entirely  too  much  dependence 
placed  upon  men  who  were  unworthy  of  it. 

Certain  discoveries  of  mismanagement  or  worse  were  made  in 
1842,  which,  upon  investigation,  brought  forth  a  report  from  the 
committee,  from  which  the  following  extracts  are  quoted  : 

"  Your  Committee  regret  to  sa}^  that  they  have  found  much  to 
censure  and  condemn.  It  appears  from  an  examination  of  Mr.  A. 
S.  Hutchinson,  Stiperintendent  of  Manufactures,  he  makes  no  entry 
whatever  whenever  anything  is  sold  by  him  for  cash,  but  puts  the 
money  in  his   pocket.     A  pass  is  given  by  him  to  the  person  pur- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  155 

chasing,  to  take  the  goods  out,  and,  after  a  lapse  of  one,  two  or 
three  weeks,  as  the  case  may  be,  he  takes  up  the  passes,  and  then 
makes  an  entry  in  the  books  himself  or  directs  Mr.  Ross,  the  clerk, 
to  make  one.     He  (Mr.  H.)  then  destroys  the  passes. 

"  The  Committee  may  further  remark  that  the  general  man- 
agement is,  in  many  cases,  loose  and  unjustifiable,  and  calls  loudly 
for  a  more  efficient  system. 

"  It  appears,  from  the  testimony  before  the  Committee,  that 
the  Superintendent  is  in  the  habit  of  drawing  his  supplies  of  flour, 
cornmeal,  potatoes,  tinware,  shoes,  hard  and  soft  soap,  tubs,  buck- 
ets, carpeting,  towels  and  feed  for  a  large  stock  of  chickens  and 
pigeons,  and  sometimes  goats,  and  in  some  instances  such  articles 
as  bedspreads  and  muslin,  from  the  supplies  belonging  to  the  insti- 
tution, all  of  which  the  Committee  supposed  to  be  contrary  to  the 
agreement  made  with  him.  On  his  examination,  Mr.  Hutchinson 
first  admitted  only  that  he  received  flour  for  pies  when  there  was 
good  flour  in  the  mill,  but  afterwards,  on  a  close  examination,  he 
admitted  that  he  drew  all  his  flour  at  all  times  from  the  mill,  when 
there  was  any  flour  in  it,  stating  that  he  believed  he  had  been 
authorized  to  do  so  by  Mr.  Keefe,  and  also  believed  that  it  was 
done  with  the  knowledge  of  the  present  Committee.  He  also 
stated  that  he  bought  his  potatoes,  except  that  he  might  have 
received  a  peck  or  a  half-peck  or  some  small  quantity  of  them. 
This  assertion  he  reiterated  on  the  question  being  put  to  him  a 
second  ^  or  third  time,  so  that  he  might  fully  unde'rstand  its 
import. 

"  The  Committee  are  constrained  to  say,  from  the  testimony  of 
Captain  Kelly,  who  has  charge  of  the  potatoes,  that  Mr.  Hutchin- 
son is  in  the  constant  habit  of  receiving  from  him  his  supplies  by 
the  bag  full  whenever  there  are  potatoes  for  distribution  in  the 
House.  This  is  confirmed  by  three  other  witnesses  who  have 
knowledge  of  the  deliveries. 

"  Finding  Mr.  Hutchinson  so  uncandid  in  his  denial  of  a  fact 
so  well  established  before  the  Committee,  they  have  little  confidence 
in  his  denial  of  many  other  things  which  have  been  well  estab- 
lished before  them,  and  they  are  induced  to  believe,  from  the  gen- 


156  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

eral  tenor  of  the  evidence,  that  he  obtains  his  supplies  generally, 
for  the  use  of  his  family,  from  those  belonging  to  the  institution." 

The  Board  notified  Mr.  Hutchinson  that  his  services  would  be 
dispensed  with.     The  clerk  was  also  discharged. 

An  Act  was  passed  in  May,  1844,  providing  "for  the  admis- 
sion of  the  Township  of  Moyamensing  to  participate  in  the  advan- 
tages and  privileges  of  the  institution  at  Blockley." 

The  management,  or  rather  the  lack  of  it,  in  the  medical 
department  of  the  institution  was  the  cause  of  much  dissatisfaction 
on  the  part  of  the  Guardians  in  1845.  ^^^  ^^  the  reports  of  the 
Hospital  Committee  said,  "  That  the  existing  conditions  do  not  in 
many  respects  meet  the  approbation  of  your  Committee."  It 
referred  to  the  rules  providing  for  four  physicians,  four  surgeons 
and  two  accouchers  who  served  gratuitously,  and  further  said, 
"  Nearly  all  the  gentlemen  at  present  holding  these  situations  are 
connected  with  the  medical  schools  of  the  city  as  Professors  or 
Lecturers,  and  for  about  four  months  of  the  year  attend  regularly 
at  the  Hospital,  for  the  purpose  of  lecturing  to  their  classes."  The 
sick  patients  were  taken  from  their  wards  to  the  lecture  room  to 
"  undergo  examinations  for  the  purpose  of  furnishing  subjects  for 
the  lectures."  None  of  the  patients  are  exempt  from  the  liability 
of  being  thus  exposed.  This  connection  of  the  Almshouse  Hos- 
pital with  the  medical  schools,  in  consequence  of  the  facilities  it 
affords  for  clinical  instruction,  interesting  surgical  operations  and 
post  mortem  examinations  is,  no  doubt,  of  no  small  value  to  the 
schools,  but  as  our  interests  in  them  do  not  predominate  over  the 
interest  we  feel  in  the  discharge  of  duty  towards  the  poor,  as  their 
legal  Guardians,  we  cannot  admit  the  propriety  of  the  connection. 

"  Without  attaching  any  censure  to  the  skilful  and  learned 
gentlemen  who  officiate  in  this  capacity  for  anything  wrong  in  the 
manner  of  performing  these  duties,  we  nevertheless  hold  that  our 
sanction  of  the  thing  itself  is  altogether  unjustifiable.  There  are 
rights  possessed  even  by  the  recipients  of  charity  which  should  be 
guarded,  and  feelings  which  should  be  respected. 

"  At  this  time  there  were  eight  young  resident  physicians  on 
duty   for  one-year  terms.     They  were   supposed  to  be  under  the 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  157 

directions  of  the  Visiting  Staff,  and  under  the  rules  they  were  not 
allowed  to  prescribe,  unless  in  a  case  of  emergenc}^  It  w^as  said 
that  the  rules  were  not  complied  with,  and  that  the  residents, 
recently  from  school  and  anxious  to  practice,  often  rather  unduly 
elated  with  the  first  honors  of  the  Doctorate,  are  placed  at  once, 
and  while  totally  inexperienced,  in  situations  of  the  highest  respon- 
sibility, in  charge  of  a  Hospital  often  containing  500  patients, 
subject  only  to  such  limited  control  as  the  attending  physicians 
see  fit  to  exercise ;  or  rather  such  as  the  residents  themselves  are 
willing  to  submit  to. 

"  Whether  it  is  consistent  with  our  duty  towards  these  unfor- 
tunate inmates  of  the  Hospital  to  place  them  in  charge  of  mere 
novices  who  never  had  a  case  before  entering  its  wards,  may  be 
questioned." 

This  report  caused  much  thought,  and  before  a  final  conclu- 
sion was  arrived  at,  another  report  from  the  Committee  showed  the 
unruly  spirit  of  the  resident  physicians  and  brought  on  a  change 
in  that  department.  The  report  stated  that  the  "  Resident  Physi- 
cians had  relinquished  their  charge  of  the  sick  in  the  Hospital,  with- 
out having  given  any  previous  intimation  of  their  intentions." 
The  reason  assigned  was  that  they  would  not  board  with  the  steward, 
as  required  by  the  rules.  The  sick  in  the  wards  were  thus  left 
without  medical  attendance,  which  might  have  proved  fatal  to 
some  of  them. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  Board  dismissing  Doctors 
Keating,  Higginbottom,  Porter,  Jones,  Farquharson,  Sherrard, 
Mason,  Brent  and  Haines  from  the  institution,  and  authorizing  the 
Hospital  Committee  to  make  temporary  arrangements  to  secure 
medical  attendance  for  the  patients. 

A  special  meeting  was  held  on  the  following  day  when  a 
communication  was  received  from  the  offending  physicians,  in 
which  they  announced  their  readiness  to  perform  the  duties  of  their 
positions,  and  stating  that  they  only  desired  redress  of  their  griev- 
ances in  regard  to  the  steward. 

The  steward,  the  dismissed  physicians  and  the  nurses  were  sum- 
moned to  appear  before  the  Board,  and  an  investigation  commenced. 


158  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  steward,  Mr.  Daniel  Smith,  who  had  succeeded  Mr. 
Stockton,  made  a  statement,  and  Dr.  Keating  gave  his  version  of 
the  difficulty. 

It  appeared  that  a  lady  wlio  ate  at  the  same  table  with  the 
steward  and  doctors  complained  of  the  deportment  and  language  of 
the  physicians,  after  the  nuisance  had  become  intolerable,  and  they 
were  rebuked  for  their  violations  of  propriety.  The  doctors 
attempted  to  represent  the  steward  as  being  a  man  of  offensive 
manners  and  meddlesome  inclinations,  but  they  did  not  succeed. 

Those  who  knew  Mr.  Smith  spoke  of  him  as  "  being  always 
amiable  and  gentlemanly  in  his  intercourse  with  those  connected 
with  the  institution." 

The  Board  declined  to  re-instate  the  physicians  who  had  been 
dismissed. 

The  doctors  who  had  been  discharged  published  a  statement 
in  the  Ledger^  in  which  they  not  only  attempted  to  justify  their 
actions,  but  assailed  the  Guardians,  and  insinuated  charges  impeach- 
ing the  integrity  and  moral  character  of  some  of  the  members  of 
the  Board.     The  vacant  positions  were  soon  filled. 

Another  report  from  the  Committee  said  : 

"  A  building  is  provided  as  a  depository  during  the  interval 
between  death  and  interment.  An  official  is  constantly  stationed 
to  guard  it,  and  rules  of  the  most  stringent  character  have  been 
adopted  for  the  safe  keeping  of  the  bodies  and  to  preserve  them 
unmutilated  in  cases  where  the  friends  of  the  deceased  can  be 
found.  A  messenger  is  always  dispatched  forthwith  to  inform  the 
relatives  or  friends  of  the  deceased,  in  order  that  they  may  have 
an  opportunity  of  removing  the  body  ;  and  it  has  always  been  en- 
joined on  the  Resident  Physicians  and  students  never  to  make 
any  examinations,  unless  with  the  express  permission  of  the 
friends.  In  other  cases,  where  there  are  no  known  friends,  or 
where  they  cannot  be  found,  although  there  are  no  rules  pro- 
hibiting the  examination  of  the  bodies,  yet  it  has  been  well 
understood  that  such  examinations  should  not  be  made  oftener 
than  necessary,  and  always  with  a  strict  regard  to  decency  and 
propriety.     A  recent  instance  might  be  cited  to  show  the  little  heed 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  159 

given  to  the  first  injunction  and  the  utter  disregard  to  the  second 
will  be  sufficiently  established  by  mentioning  the  fact  that  within 
a  few  days,  two  members  of  the  Board  happening  to  enter  an  un- 
frequented, and,  as  they  supposed,  an  unoccupied  part  of  the  build- 
ing, discovered  the  mutilated  remains  of  a  human  body,  in  a  con- 
dition too  revolting  to  be  described.  Appearances  indicated  that 
the  remains  had  been  there  for  several  months,  and  we  suppose 
they  had  been  overlooked." 

The  conditions  described  by  these  reports  called  for  immediate 
action  ;  the  committee  recommended  the  election  of  a  Chief  Resi- 
dent Physician  and  Assistants,  to  be  paid  for  their  services,  to  reside 
on  the  premises,  and  to  have  entire  charge  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  House. 

The  recommendation  was  adopted,  and  Dr.  H.  S.  Patterson 
was  elected  Chief  Resident  Physician,  at  a  salary  of  $1800  per 
annum. 

The  following  consultants  were  also  chosen  :  Dr.  Wm.  Byrd 
Page,  Consulting  Surgeon  ;  Dr.  Meredith  Clymer,  Consulting  Phy- 
sician ;  Dr.  N.  D.  Benedict,  Consulting  Accoucher.  They  were 
each  to  receive  $100  a  year  for  their  services. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

PROTEST    REGARDING    GRAVEYARD— POOR   HEATING  AND  VENTILA- 
TION. 

A  PROTEST,  signed  by  six  members  of  the  Board,  regard- 
ing the  graveyard,   was   presented    on    November    loth, 
1845.     ^^  ^t  ^^^  statement  was  made  that  "  the  practice 
of  taking  the  bodies  from  the  graveyard  to  the  Lecture 
rooms  had  prevailed  for  j^ears." 

In  reply  to  the  argument  that  the  schools  must  have  bodies 
and  that  obstacles  placed  in  the  way  of  their  procuring  them  would 
be  injurious  to  the  interests  of  science,  the  protest  said:  "This 
should  have  no  weight  with  us,  inasmuch  as  the  duties  of  the  Board 
are  limited  to  the  relief  and  employment  of  the  poor,  the  Board 
sustaining  the  same  relation  to  the  people  under  its  charge  that 
the  head  of  a  family  does  to  the  members  of  it.  That  the  same 
kind,  if  not  the  same  degree  of  care  should  be  exercised,  and  that 
it  has  no  right  to  seek  the  promotion  of  other  objects  which  inter- 
fere with  the  proper  performance  of  these  duties." 

It  had  been  said  that  "  as  paupers  are  of  no  use  to  society 
while  living,  there  is  no  wrong  done  in  making  them  useful  when 
dead."  The  protest  answered  that  by  saying :  "  If  the  basis  of 
this  argument  was  true,  the  inference  would  be  shocking.  What 
then  should  be  said  of  it  in  the  face  of  the  fact  that  many  of  them 
during  the  principal  part  of  their  lives,  and  until  old  age  or  sick- 
ness overtook  them,  supported  themselves  and  families,  often  under 
the  most  difficult  and  trying  circumstances,  in  a  creditable  and 
respectable  manner,  who  have  been  useful  members  of  society  and 
who  have  as  keen  sensibilities  in  regard  to  decent  interment  and 
safety  of  their  remains  as  any  other  people.  But  we  are  not  will- 
ing to  admit  that  even  in  the  case  of  the  most  depraved,  the  Board 
would  be  excusable  in  conniving  at  any  violations  of  the  grave. 
Few,  and  perhaps  none,  are  so  deadened  in  feelings  as  not  to  desire 
the  rites  of  Christian  burial,  for  who  would  not  revolt  at  the  idea, 
160 


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Histo-ry  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  T>1 

if  they  were  consulted  on  the  subject,  of  permitting  their  bodies  to 
be  exposed  in  the  lecture  rooms,  cut  to  pieces  for  the  benefit  of  the 
schools  and  then  thrown  into  a  pit  containing  the  remains  of  hun- 
dreds of  others.  All  look  to  the  Guardians  for  protection  ;  no  dis- 
tinction is  practical  or  expedient. 

"  To  trifle  with  or  disregard  these  feelings  is  a  cruelty  alto- 
getber  unjustifiable. 

"  If  the  advancement  of  medical  science  be  a  sufficient  plea  for 
this,  why  might  it  not  be  as  well  applied  as  an  apology  for  the  inflic- 
tion of  bodily  torture,  for  it  is  questionable  whether  that  would,  be 
a  serious  cruelty,  compared  with  the  goading  of  the  mind  to  agony 
by  the  horrible  apprehensions  of  such  a  fate  to  await  the  body  after 
death. 

"  That  it  occasions  dread  and  anxiety  in  the  minds  of  some"  of 
the  inmates  of  this  House,  is  a  well  known  fact.  They  are  full}' 
aware,  or  at  least  many  of  them  are,  that  burial  here,  during  the 
lecture  season,  is  a  mockery,  and  to  be  buried  elsewhere  is  some 
times  asked  as  the  last  and  greatest  favor. 

"It  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  these  fears  and  exciting  anxie- 
ties do  not  produce  evil  eflfects  on  the  sick  and  often  diminish  the 
chances  of  recovery,  for  they  haunt  them  until  the  last  hour  of  life 
and  increase  in  terror  as  the  moment  of  dissolution  approaches. 

"  And  may  not  this  anxiety  to  have  the  remains  cared  for  and 
protected  after  death  be  parti}-  produced  by  the  idea  that  the  spirit 
may  continue  to  be  cognizant  of  what  is  done  to  the  mortal  part  ? 
That  death  does  not  7nean  a  total  disconnection  f 

"  The  evils  complained  of  and  the  wrong  done  admit  of  a 
remedy  which  should  be  instantly  applied.  Justice  and  common 
humanity  forbid  that  the  bodies  of  the  poor  should  be  treated  in  a 
manner  which  the  law  allows  only  in  the  cases  of  the  worst  felons.'' 

This  subject  was  the  cause  of  much  discussion,  but  no  imme- 
diate action  was  taken,  as  the  majority  of  the  Board  of  Guardians 
contended  "  that  the  colleges  must  have  subjects,"  and  that  if  the 
supply  from  the  Almshouse  was  cut  off,  the  bodies  would  be  stolen 
from  the  cemeteries  ;  and  that  it  was  better  that  those  who  died 
without  friends  or  relatives  to  mourn  for  them  should  go  to  the 
11 


162  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

dissecting  rooms  than  that  the  doctors  should  have  the  graves,  in 
which  so  many  living  persons  felt  an  affectionate  interest,  7'obbed  of 
their  contents. 

This  question  was  not  settled  for  many  years,  and  was  the 
cause  of  much  scandal.  Certain  people,  who  had  an  interest  in  the 
bodies^  spoke  of  the  sentiments  embraced  in  the  protest  as  "  mawk. 
ish  sentimentality,''  but  the  community  at  large  did  not  agree  with 
them. 

A  nurse  named  Welsh  left  the  institution  in  1848  under  pecu- 
liar circumstances,  and  a  committee  investigated  the  matter.  The 
report  stated  "  Nurse  Welsh  left  her  duties  on  Saturday,  August 
15th;  came  on  the  afternoon  of  Monday,  17th,  and  a  case  of 
labor  occurring  at  that  time  was  attended  to  b}^  her.  She  left 
again  that  same  evening,  and  returned  on  Wednesday,  the  19th. 
She  received  her  month's  wages  from  the  Steward,  which  he  paid 
her  by  order  of  Mr.  William  Abbott,  a  Guardian,  although  it  was 
not  due.  She  took  away  from  the  House  with  her  two  loads  of 
o-oods,  one  of  which  the  vSteward  saw.  He  found  that  it  contained 
a  box,  a  part  of  a  bedstead,  some  chairs  and  four  or  five  trunks,  the 
contents  of  which  were  unknown.  The  other  load  he  did  not 
examine,  as  he  was  relieved  of  that  duty  by  the  pass  of  Mr.  Abbott. 
Neither  the  Steward,  Matron  or  Doctor  knew  anything  of  Nurse 
Welsh's  intention  to  leave  until  the  Saturday  afternoon  she  left, 
when  Mr.  Abbott  mentioned  it  to  the  Matron  as  he  was  passing 
through  her  department.  There  was  no  nurse  or  competent  assist- 
ant left  in  charge  of  the  ward,  and  as  there  were  at  least  four 
patients  there  requiring  constant  and  special  attention,  they  must 
have  suffered  considerably  from  neglect.  Several  flat  irons  are 
missing,  and  a  large  box  containing  bed  clothing  cannot  be  satis- 
factorily accounted  for.  The  Steward,  at  the  request  of  Mr.  Abbott 
and  some  other  members,  took  down  the  bedstead  that  Nurse  Welsh 
took  away. 

"  Your  Committee  have  therefore  come  to  the  following  con- 
clusion :  that  the  rules  and  practices  of  this  Board  have  been 
grossly  violated,  not  only  by  the  nurse  who  left  her  duties  prema- 
turely, without  giving  proper  notice  to  the  Committee,  and   at  a 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  163 

time  when  her  services  were  much  needed,  but  also  by  the  member 
who  assisted  her  in  getting  her  goods  from  the  House,  without  the 
possibility  of  the  Steward  or  the  Matron  knowing  who  the  said 
goods  belonged  to." 

The  Board  dropped  the  matter,  much  to  the  relief  of  Mr. 
Abbott. 

To  show  the  character  of  Nurse  Welsh,  it  need  only  be  said 
that  she  was  afterwards  sent  to  the  Penitentiary  for  throwing  vit- 
riol in  a  young  man's  face  and  destroying  his  sight. 

This  Mr.  Abbott  was  soon  mixed  up  in  other  affairs  which  did 
not  reflect  much  credit  on  him,  to  say  the  least. 

John  Wistar,  an  inmate  of  the  House,  died,  and  Mr.  Abbott, 
without  consulting  his  colleagues,  notified  the  Coroner  that  the 
death  occurred  under  suspicious  circumstances,  and  asked  for  an 
inquest  to  be  held.  The  newspapers  took  the  matter  up  and  reflec- 
tions were  cast  upon  the  management  of  the  institution  and  the 
Chief  Resident  Physician,  Dr.  Benedict  (he  having  succeeded  Dr. 
Patterson)  in  particular. 

The  Board  thoroughly  investigated  the  matter,  and  adopted 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  which  were  published  in 
the  daily  papers  in  November,  1848  : 

"  Whereas,  The  Board  of  Guardians  was  apprised  by  the 
certificate  of  the  Coroner  and  by  certain  publications  in  the  news- 
papers that  an  inquest  had  been  held  on  the  body  of  John  Wistar, 
late  an  inmate  of  the  Almshouse,  who  died  in  the  drunkards'  ward 
of  that  institution  ;   and 

"  Whereas,  The  several  publications  alluded  to,  and  the  certifi- 
cate of  the  Coroner,  contained  severe  strictures  upon  the  rules  for 
the  government  of  the  institution,  and  upon  the  conduct  of  its  offi- 
cers ;  it  was,  on  motion, 

"  Resolved^  That  this  Board  do  proceed  to  make  a  full  and  care- 
ful examination  of  everything  connected  with  this  matter ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  This  Board  has  been  made  fully  acquainted  with 
all  the  circumstances  of  the  case,  by  a  careful  examination  of  all 
the  persons  who  had  any  connection  with  the  said  deceased,  after 
his  last  return  to  this  House,  and  is  satisfied  that  great  injustice 


164  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

has  been  done  to  tlie  institution  and  its  officers  by  the  publications 
and  certificate  ;  therefore,  it  is  deemed  proper  for  the  Board  to  state 
fully  the  conclusions  to  which  it  has  arrived,  viz. :  That  there  was 
nothing  in  the  condition  of  John  Wistar,  at  the  time  of  his  return 
to  this  House  ;  nor  in  his  confinement  of  forty-eight  hours  ;  nor  in 
his  sickness  ;  nor  in  his  death  in  this  House,  which  in  the  slightest 
degree  justified  Mr.  William  Abbott,  one  of  the  members  of  this 
Board,  in  sending  for  the  Coroner. 

"  That  this  Board  cannot  but  view  with  serious  regret  and  dis- 
approbation the  examination  by  the  Coroner,  which,  to  say  the  least 
of  it,  was  limited,  and  extraordinarily  limited,  inasmuch  as  he  de- 
clined to  examine  the  Chief  Resident  Ph3^sician,  who  attended  the 
case,  although  notified  that  he  was  in  waiting  in  an  adjoining  room, 
and  permitted  the  jury  to  make  up  their  verdict  from  an  examina- 
tion of  the  Steward,  Doorkeeper  and  Cellkeeper,  neither  of  whom 
pretend  to  know  anything  about  the  cause  of  Wistar's  death,  and 
extraordinary  as  it  resulted  in  a  statement  of  '  death  from  inflam- 
mation of  the  bowels,'  without  any  consultation  with  the  attending 
physician,  or  post  mortem  examination. 

"  That  the  statement  in  one  or  more  of  the  newspapers  that 
John  Wistar  had  been  confined  in  the  lock-up  thirty-six  hours 
longer  than  the  usual  time  of  punishment  is  untrue.  He  was  con- 
fined but  forty-eight  hours,  and  after  that  time  had  the  freedom  of 
the  Ward,  halls  and  yards,  as  all  the  other  patients  had.  His  punish- 
ment was  by  order  of  the  Steward,  who  alone  has  the  power  in 
such  cases.  That  the  evidence  conclusively  shows  the  death 
of  Wistar  to  have  been  caused  by  an  excessive  debauch  of 
seven  or  eight  days,  operating  upon  a  constitution  broken  down 
by  long-continued  intemperance.  That  this  Board  do  declare 
that  they  have  not  been  able  to  discover  the  slightest  ground 
for  censure  against  the  Medical  Staff  or  any  other  officer  of  the 
House." 

Dr.  N.  B.  Leidy  was  the  Coroner  at  that  time,  and  he  subse- 
quently sent  a  note  to  Dr.  Benedict,  in  which  he  said,  "  The  certi- 
ficate contains  a  small  portion  of  the  cause  of  death." 

Dr.  Benedict  paid  no  attention  to  this  half  apology. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  165 

This  was  the  same  Mr.  Abbott  who  was  connected  with  the 
singular  departure  of  Nurse  Welsh.  After  the  Board  had  so  gen- 
erously overlooked  his  actions  in  that  affair  he  certainly  did  not 
show  any  gratitude  for  their  leniency.  It  was  very  small,  on  his 
part,  to  raise  all  this  trouble  and  scandal  about  nothing. 

An  old  newspaper,  in  speaking  of  this  gentleman,  said  :  "  With 
the  entrance  of  Mr.  Abbott  into  the  Board  of  Guardians  com- 
mences the  degeneracy  of  the  management  of  the  Almshouse. 
From  that  time  various  individuals  were  elected  Guardians,  who, 
without  attending  to  any  private  business,  or  receiving  any  legal 
emoluments,  contrived  to  make  a  living  out  of  it." 

Here  commenced  the  scandals  which  ultimately  resulted  in 
the  reorganization  of  the  Board  upon  a  better  basis. 

The  arrangements  for  heating  and  ventilating  the  Insane  De- 
partment were  very  poor  in  1 849.  Stoves  were  used  for  furnishing 
heat,  but  they  did  not  accomplish  the  object.  The  poor  unfort- 
unates in  that  part  of  the  institution  suffered  severely  with  the 
extreme  cold.  No  one  could  imagine  the  effect  it  would  have  on 
them  to  be  confined  in  wards  where  the  temperature  was  below  the 
freezing  point ;  it  certainly  would  not  assist  in  their  recover3^ 
Feeble,  demented  creatures,  whose  bodies  were  not  always  properly 
covered  with  suitable  clothing,  could  not  endure  it  as  well  as  the 
strong,  healthier  people,  although  it  must  have  been  very  trying  to 
all  in  the  place. 

The  Board  instructed  Dr.  Benedict  to  make  tests  with  ther- 
mometers and  to  report  the  results.  In  February  he  presented  a 
statement,  in  which  he  said  :  "  On  the  first  floor  of  the  west  wing 
of  the  Women's  Lunatic  Asylum,  at  about  9  o'clock  A.  m.,  found 
that  a  towel  which  a  nurse  was  using  to  wipe  one  of  the  patients, 
in  one  of  the  cells,  had  frozen.  The  patient  was  a  very  delicate 
woman,  and  altogether  unfit  to  be  placed  in  such  a  temperature. 

"  This  morning  one  of  the  patients  was  found  under  the  bed, 
on  the  floor,  wrapped  up  in  the  bedclothes.  All  water  in  the  room 
was  frozen.  The  thermometer  then  stood  at  from  13  to  iS  degrees. 
On  the  same  day,  at  2  o'clock  P.  M.,  the  thermometer  stood  at  27 
degrees    in   the  cells,  and  24  degrees  in  the  open   air.     In  the  cell 


166  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

nearest  the  stove,  and  with  the  door  standing  open,  within  three  or 
four  feet  of  the  stove,  the  thermometer  indicated  a  temperature 
below  the  freezing  point.  The  bed  clothes  upon  which  water  was 
spilled  were  constantly  frozen  during  the  severe  weather.'' 

What  a  horrible  condition.  In  these  days  if  the  thermometers 
registered  below  70  degrees  reports  of  insufficiency  of  heat  would 
soon  be  made,  and  would  be  remedied  immediately. 

The  committee  recommended  a  plan  for  heating  that  part  of 
the  House  by  steam,  and  the  Board  promptly  approved  it,  and  took 
the  proper  steps  to  introduce  the  improvement. 

The  Board  appeared  to  be  afflicted  with  certain  members  who  did 
not  appreciate  the  courtesy  due  to  their  colleagues,  or  were  igno- 
rant of  the  proper  course  to  pursue  to  accomplish  their  objects. 
Mr.  Thomas  Stewart  was  evidently  one  of  that  class,  as  the  action 
taken  by  the  Guardians  on  a  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Gilpin,  on 
April  9th,  1849,  would  seem  to  show. 

The  resolution  as  presented  read: 

"  Resolved^  That  our  fellow  member,  Mr.  Thomas  Stewart, 
foreman  of  the  late  Grand  Jury,  who  made  their  presentment  on 
the  27th  of  March  last,  be  requested  to  present  to  this  Board  a 
plan  for  the  better  government  and  employment  of  a  class  of  our 
inmates,  alluded  to  in  said  inquest,  said  class  being  designated  as 
a  '  number  of  strong,  healthy  and  able-bodied  persons,  of  both 
sexes,  without  employment,  idly  lounging  away  their  time  through- 
out the  premises  ;  and  also  in  the  factory  are  to  be  seen  a  large 
number  of  the  same  description  of  men,  employed  in  picking 
oakum,  earning  from  two  to  five  cents  per  diem.'  " 

Mr.  Fell  moved  to  add  the  following : 

"  And  if,  as  he  stated,  the  above  suggestions  were  made  in  a 
respectful  manner,  what  is  the  explanation  of  the  following  para- 
graph, which  occurs  in  the  presentment  alluded  to  ?  '  And  in 
place  of  devoting  their  time  and  energies,  and,  as  it  were,  warping 
the  institution  to  serve  particular  selfish  ends  of  a  doubtful 
policy,  at  variance  with  its  general  principles,  economy  and  useful- 
ness, and  that  have  a  tendency  to  distract  the  harmony,  efficiency 
and  united  action  of  their  own  body.'  " 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  167 

The  Board  adopted  the  resolutions  and  agreed  to  make  reply- 
to  the  Grand  Jury's  presentment.  Mr,  Stewart  had  no  plan  to 
suggest,  as  he  had  been  requested  to  do. 

To  take  advantage  of  his  position  as  Foreman  of  the  Grand 
Jury  to  impeach  the  conduct  of  his  colleagues,  was,  to  say  the  least, 
a  display  of  very  bad  taste.  If  he  knew  of  anything  that  was  wrong 
in  the  management,  it  was  his  duty  to  call  the  attention  of  the 
members  of  the  Board  to  the  facts  and  endeavor  to  have  it  im- 
proved. His  method  not  only  brought  discredit  upon  the  Board, 
of  which  he  was  a  member,  but  was  a  reflection  upon  himself  and 
a  proof  of  neglect  of  duty. 

The  Board  made  the  following  answer  to  the  Grand  Jury's  pre- 
sentment. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  for  April  session  in  their  presentment  say : 
'  The  Hospital  Building,  erected  with  especial  regard  to  the  neces- 
sities of  the  sick,  with  airy  and  pleasant  apartments,  opening  on  a 
cheerful  garden,  has  been  converted  into  a  receptacle  for  a  compar- 
atively small  number  of  idiots  and  generally  incurable  lunatics, 
while  the  great  mass  of  the  sick  are  crowded  into  apartments  in  the 
factory  buildings  and  elsewhere.  None  of  these  rooms  on  the  flrst 
floor  have  sufficient  ventilation,  opening  on  a  few  feet  of  barren 
yard,  and  a  blank  high  wall.  It  is  certainly  desirable  that  the 
insane  should  have  every  necessary  comfort  and  convenience,  but 
not  at  the  expense  of  human  life,  and  the  sacrifice  of  the  original 
intention  of  the  institution.' 

"  This  language  distinctly  charges  that  the  patients  in  the 
lunatic  asylum  are  comparatively  a  small  number,  or  one-thirtieth 
of  the  sick ;  that,  for  the  accommodation  of  the  former,  the  latter 
have  been  removed  from  their  airy  and  pleasant  quarters  and 
crowded  into  other  places,  and  that  the  change  has  been  made  at 
the  expense  of  human  life.  The  Guardians,  in  refutation  of  these 
allegations  and  without  commenting  on  the  reckless  ignorance  or 
active  malevolence  which  alone  could  have  prompted  them,  submit 
a  few  facts.  In  the  first  place,  the  number  of  persons  of  unsound 
minds  in  the  lunatic  department,  instead  of  being  small  in  compar- 
ison with  that  in  the  hospital — instead  of  being  one-thirtieth^  as 


168  History  o,f  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

averred  in  the  presentment — is   in  fact  greater,  the  nnmber  in  the 
insane  department  being  390,  while  that  in  the  hospital  is  349. 

"  In  the  next  place,  these  349,  or  whatever  number  may  at  any 
time  require  medical  or  surgical  aid,  instead  of  being  crowded,  as 
the  presentment  alleges,  by  the  change  of  their  apartments,  have 
had  their  accommodations  extended,  and  their  means  of  comfort 
proportionately  increased.  In  the  building  formerly  occupied  by 
the  sick  there  were  12  wards,  each  44x40  feet,  or  1,760  square  feet 
each,  containing  228  beds  ;  6  wards,  each  22x40  feet,  or  880  square 
feet  each,  containing  56  beds  ;  i  attic,  containing  40  beds — making 
a  total  of  324  beds.  The  present  hospital  consists  of  11  wards, 
each  47x44  feet,  or  2,068  square  feet  each,  containing  220  beds; 
9  wards,  each  47x22  feet,  or  1,034  square  feet  each,  containing  90 
beds  ;  6  wards,  each  32x25  feet,  or  800  square  feet  each,  containing 
42  beds  ;  2  attics,  containing  80  beds — making  a  total  of  432  beds. 

"  Thus,  in  the  opinion  of  the  Grand  Jury,  the  patients  were 
amply  provided  for  in  the  old  hospital,  where  in  the  wards  less  than 
93  square  feet  were  allowed  each  bed ;  but  are  crowded  at  the 
expense  of  human  life  in  the  new  hospital,  where  more  than  104 
square  feet  are  allowed  for  the  same  purpose. 

"  The  classification  of  the  insane  was  not  the  only  object  pro- 
posed to  be  accomplished  by  this  change,  the  proper  treatment  of 
the  patients  also  required  it.  Before  any  change  had  been  effected, 
the  building  used  as  a  hospital  for  the  sick,  from  the  increase  of 
patients,  had  become  totally  inadequate  for  the  purpose,  and  from 
a  necessity  which  was  regularly  increasing  other  and  better  accom- 
modations for  them  had  to  be  provided. 

"  To  effect  this,  either  the  interior  of  the  large  buildings  form- 
ing the  wings  of  the  old  hospital,  which  had  been  arranged  at  a 
heavy  expense  for  the  use  of  the  lunatics,  must  have  been  entirely 
remodeled  to  fit  them  for  the  sick,  and  other  and  costly  arrange- 
ments made  elsewhere  for  the  lunatics,  or  the  present  more  eco- 
nomical, and  in  all  respects  the  more  suitable  plan,  adopted. 

"  It  appears,  from  the  statement  before  given,  that  by  the 
change  of  the  hospital  for  the  sick  the  Guardians  have  been  enabled 
to  increase  the  number  of  beds  precisely  one-third,  and  have  effected 


History  of  Pliiladelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  169 

this  not  by  the  sacrifice  of  space  or  room,  but,  on  the  contrary, 
have  greatly  increased  it. 

"  It  will  be  perceived  that  the  wards  in  the  old  hospital  contained 
but  26,300  square  feet.  The  present  hospital  has  36,854  square 
feet  in  the  wards,  and  in  addition  it  has  16  rooms  32x16  feet,  used 
as  operating  rooms,  bath  rooms,  nurses'  rooms,  dining  rooms, 
kitchen,  etc.  The  former  and  present  hospital  are  parallel  to  each 
other,  forming  the  opposite  sides  of  a  hollow  square,  and  conse- 
quently have  the  same  exposures.  The  second  and  third  stories 
are  very  pleasant  and  airy,  and  command  a  fine  view  of  the  city. 

"The  ventilation  of  the  first  floor  is  little,  if  any  at  all,  ob- 
structed by  the  wall  inclosing  the  yard.  The  removal,  however,  of 
the  sick  and  dying  from  the  former  quarters,  where  they  were  in 
the  immediate  proximity  of  raving  maniacs,  whose  howls  and 
screams  rang  in  their  ears  by  day  and  by  night,  more  than  com- 
pensate for  minor  inconveniences,  even  if  such  exist.  That  the 
change  complained  of  was  made  '  at  the  expense  of  human  life,'  or 
even  of  the  discomfort  or  inconvenience  of  the  paupers  is  therefore 
utterly  untrue. 

"  The  Guardians  cannot  forbear  expressing  their  deep  regret 
that  men,  acting  under  the  responsibilities  of  their  oaths  or  affirm- 
ations, should  have  been  induced  by  any  influence  to  make  repre- 
sentatioris  so  evidently  groundless  that  even  the  slight  opportu- 
nity aflbrded  by  their  short  visit,  if  properly  improved,  would  have 
prevented  them  from  making. 

"  Although  not  directly  required  by  any  remarks  of  either  of 
the  grand  juries,  it  may  be  well,  as  explanatory  of  the  difiiculties 
which  the  Board  has  had  to  encounter,  and  of  the  probable  influ- 
ences which  produced  these  presentments,  to  refer  briefl}^  to  the 
history  of  the  lunatic  asylum.  The  buildings  originally  intended 
for  lunatics  were  constructed  upon  plans  adopted  by  commissioners 
appointed  for  the  purpose,  and  approved  by  the  then  existing 
Board  of  Guardians.  In  those  days  it  seems  to  have  been  con- 
sidered that  humanity  discharged  its  whole  duty  to  these,  the  most 
unfortunate  of  her  family,  when  she  prevented  them  from  inflicting 
injury  upon  themselves  or  others,  and  cells,  high  walls,  straight- 


170  History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

jackets,  tranquiliziug  chairs,  ring-bolts,  fetters  and  manacles  were 
the  favorite  preventatives.  With  these  views,  and  having  refer- 
ence to  the  number  of  this  class,  then  a  charge  upon  the  public, 
the  commissioners,  no  doubt,  thought  that  they  made  suf&cient 
provisions  when  they  caused  120  cells  to  be  erected  for  their 
accommodation.  In  1834,  when  the  cells  were  first  occupied,  there 
were  92  persons  to  become  inmates  of  them.  But  when  more 
correct  and  benevolent  views  of  their  condition  and  their  demand 
upon  society  prevailed,  when  it  became  more  generally  understood 
that  no  matter  to  what  extent  they  were  bereft  of  reason,  that  they 
were  neither  wild  beasts  to  be  caged  nor  felons  to  be  chained,  but 
human  beings,  having  claims  upon  our  sympathies  and  care  in 
proportion  ,to  their  afflictions,  susceptible  of  treatment  and  not 
unfrequently  of  cure  ;  then  the  apartments  provided  were  found 
entirely  inadequate. 

"  The  number  of  these  patients  since  1834  has  been  constantly, 
greatly  and  ever  fearfully  increasing.  In  1834  the  number  of  new 
admissions  was  68;  in  1841,  seven  years  afterwards,  the  number 
had  increased  to  202  ;  and  in  1848,  after  another  period  of  seven 
years,  the  new  admissions  amounted  to  287.  On  the  i6th  of  July, 
1834,  when  the  asylum  was  opened  for  their  reception,  the  number 
under  care  and  treatment  was  92  ;  on  the  ist  of  January,  1849,  it  was 
375.  It  is  therefore  obvious  that  the  limited  buildings  constructed 
upon  the  principle  designated  were  not  merely  useless,  but  positively 
injurious.  This  great  number,  until  recently,  were  from  necessity 
thrown  together,  without  regard  to  the  peculiar  character  or  pro- 
ducing cause  of  their  fearful  malady,  the  raving  maniac  with  the 
weak-minded  and  partially  insane,  the  confirmed  and  incurable 
with  the  recent  and  probably  temporarily  deranged.  Any  attempt 
at  classification  was  defied,  treatment  was  helpless  and  cure 
impossible. 

"  In  reference  to  these  evils  the  Grand  Inquest  for  March,^ 
1845,  says  :  '  The  system  is  a  dreadful  one,  and  a  brief  residence 
among  the  uncontrollable  mad  may  alone  sufi&ce,  sympathetically 
or  from  fear,  to  establish  forever  the  disorder  in  one,  who,  differ- 
ently situated,  might  be  restored  to  health  and  reason.' 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  171 

"  Thus  this  and  other  Grand  Juries,  in  1845,  ^^^  earlier,  were 
earnestly  pressing  the  changes  that  a  Grand  Jury  in  1849  ^^^ 
thought  proper  to  condemn. 

"  The  Guardians,  however,  needed  not  the  promptings  of  a 
Grand  Jury.  They  had  seen  and  deplored  these  evils,  but  there 
were  difficulties  to  encounter  and  obstacles  to  overcome  before  a 
remedy  at  all  commensurate  with  the  necessities  of  the  case  could 
be  carried  into  execution.  The  opposition  of  some  who  were  slow 
to  believe  that  a  mind  diseased  could  be  administered  to,  or  that  a 
disordered  intellect  might  be  restored  to  its  healthy  exercise,  and 
of  others  who  balanced  the  removal  of  any  amount  of  human  suf- 
fering against  the  possible  increase  of  a  poor  rate,  for  a  time 
retarded  the  adoption,  and  has  since  attempted  to  harrass  and 
perplex  the  execution  of  a  remedy  urgently  required  by  humanit}^ 
and  sanctioned  by  enlightened  economy. 

"  The  Board  will  no  longer  conceal  that  at  every  step  they 
have  encountered  the  opposition,  degenerated  at  last  into  personal 
hostility,  of  an  active  and  untiring  minority.  That  of  this  minority 
the  gentlemen  who  were  Foremen  of  the  two  last  Grand  Juries 
form  part,  and  the  presentments  of  these  Juries  are  but  weak 
dilutions  of  the  tirades  that  for  a  time  amused,  until  their  repetition 
disgusted  the  Board. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  for  February  recommended,  '  That  all  labor, 
nursing,  attendance,  etc.,  that  is  required  in  and  about  the  estab- 
lishment should  by  all  means,  so  far  as  is  possible,  be  done  by  the 
inmates  of  the  house."  So  far  as  it  is  possible,  and  at  the  same 
time  be  corisistent  with  dece7icy^  this  at  the  present  time  is  the  prac- 
tice. In  but  one  department — that  of  the  lunatic  females — has 
pauper  attendance  and  nursing,  to  any  extent,  been  dispensed  with 
with,  and  the  recommendation  of  the  Grand  Jury  can  have  no  other 
meaning  than  that  the  Board  should,  in  this  department,  return 
to  the  practice  that  formerly  prevailed. 

"  It  may  be  premised  that  pauper  labor  is  little  to  be  relied  on, 
even  with  the  most  careful  and  continued  supervision,  and  for 
nursing  and  attention  to  the  sick  should  not  be  employed.  It  is 
true  that  poverty,  disease,  age  and  decrepitude  bring  to  the  Alms- 


172  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

house  some  who  merit  much  better  provision  than  public  charity 
affords,  but  from  these  nurses  and  assistants  can  seldom  be  taken. 
The  duties  of  these  persons  require  health  and  strength  to  dis- 
charge, and  they  are  necessarily  taken  from  those  who  have  been 
cured  of  diseases  brought  on  b}^  their  own  vile  and  vicious  habits. 
These,  for  the  most  part,  are  persons  whose  companions  are  the 
most  abandoned,  whose  haunts  are  the  most  degraded,  and  whose 
lives  are  about  equally  divided  between  those  haunts,  the  Alms- 
house and  the  prison.  They  are  detained  against  their  will,  they 
work  reluctantly  without  hire,  they  are  insensible  to  praise  and 
have  no  fear  of  punishment.  They  perform  no  labor  which  they 
can  avoid,  and  do  nothing  right  that  is  easier  to  do  wrong. 

"The  female  lunatic  department  was  formerly  under  the 
charge  of  a  male  superintendent,  assisted  by  two  male  paupers 
from  the  class  above  described,  \\ho  slept  among  the  female  patients,. 
and  by  several  female  paupers,  perhaps  still  more  degraded  and 
abandoned  than  the  men.  The  duties  of  the  men  were  among  the 
most  violent  patients,  who  destroyed  their  clothing  and  stripped 
naked  their  persons,  and  w^hose  ablutions,  when  performed,  were 
done  by  the  men. 

'•  Some  of  the  patients,  even  in  their  madness,  shrunk  from 
this  rude  handling,  and  raved  with  increased  fury  at  their  indecent 
exposure.  Revolting  to  decency  as  this  practice  was,  it  was  not 
without  difficulty  and  only  by  degrees  that  it  was  abandoned.  At 
present  no  males  are  employed  in  the  female  lunatic  asylum.  The 
patients  are  classified,  having  a  hired  female  superintendent  over 
each  division,  with  female  inmates  of  the  house  as  assistants. 

"  The  substitution  of  these  paid  superintendents  for  male  pau- 
pers to  take  care  of  these  wretched  and  helpless  women  is  what  the 
Grand  Jury  desire  should  be  abolished,  and  upon  the  ground  of 
economy  recommend  that  the  paupers  should  again  be  employed  as. 
the  only  nurses  and  attendants.  Even  on  this  ground  the  Grand 
Jury  are  mistaken.  The  whole  increase  of  salary  consequent  upon 
the  change  is  $650  per  annum  ;  which  is  more  than  compensated 
for  by  the  saving  from  waste,  destruction  and  plunder  of  pauper 
labor  with  imperfect  supervision.     We  must  assure  the  Grand  Jury 


History  of  Pliiladelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  173 

that  we  cannot  adopt  their  recommendation.  If  the  public  desire  a 
return  to  the  former  barbarous  management  of  this  department, 
they  must  procure  other  agents,  if  they  can,  for  the  accomplish- 
ment of  their  desire. 

"  We  do  not  believe,  however,  that,  even  among  the  members 
of  this  Grand  Jury  who  have  been  so  imposed  upon,  more  than  one 
can  be  found  willing  to  aid  them. 

"  The  Grand  Jury  of  February  was  much  surprised  at  seeing 
so  many  strong,  healthy  and  able  persons  of  both  sexes  without 
employment,  idly  lounging  away  their  time  throughout  the  premises. 

"  In  reply  to  a  resolution  of  the  Board  calling  upon  the  Stew- 
ard for  information  on  this  subject,  he  makes  report  'that  there 
are  very  few  able-bodied  men  in  the  institution.  Persons  not  inti- 
mately acquainted  with  the  inmates  would,  upon  a  casual  observa- 
tion, suppose  that  there  were  many  such  ;  but  upon  a  close  exam- 
ination it  will  be  found  that  nearly  all  are  afflicted  in  some  way  or 
another;  that  the  cooks,  bakers,  butchers,  woodmen,  coal  carriers, 
messengers,  ward-keepers,  etc.,  all  have  their  several  duties  to 
perform,  which  does  not  occupy  all  of  their  time,  yet  so  much 
of  it  as  to  prevent  them  from  being  engaged  in  anything  else. 
When  their  work  is  done  they  assemble  in  groups  in  different 
places.' 

''  This  also  leads  to  the  impression  on  the  minds  of  such  cas- 
ual observers  as  the  Grand  Jury  that  they  are  a  number  of  healthy, 
able-bodied  men  and  women  unemployed.  It  is  but  justice,  how- 
ever, to  add  that  the  Grand  Jury  visited  at  a  season  of  the  year 
when  the  House  is  crowded  with  the  most  improvident  if  not  the 
most  vicious,  who  seek  shelter  from  the  winter.  But  very  few  of 
them  are  acquainted  with  any  mechanical  occupation  at  which  they 
can  be  engaged,  and  at  this  season  of  the  year  k  is  difficult  to  find 
continuous  employment  for  such  a  number  upon  the  farm  and 
grounds.  This  also  may  have  contributed  to  lead  the  Jury  into  the 
error  of  saying  what  they  did. 

"  All  persons,  however,  able  to  work  are  provided  with  employ- 
ment suitable  to  their  condition.  That  which  is  the  most  profitable 
or  useful  to  the  institution  is  of  course  selected.     If  the  ability  or 


174  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

condition  of  the  pauper  does  not  qualify  him  for  such  employment, 
then  the  least  expensive  is  resorted  to,  and  rather  than  suffer  any 
one  to  be  idle,  they  are  put  to  picking  oakum,  of  which  this  very 
Grand  Jury  complains. 

"  It  appears  that  there  were  at  the  time  756  male  paupers,  449 
of  which  were  patients  in  the  hospital,  lunatic  asylum  and  incur- 
able wards,  and  67  were  nurses,  assistants,  etc.;  leaving  240  as  a 
balance.  There  were  162  of  these  employed  as  farmers,  gardeners, 
carpenters,  weavers,  tailors,  shoemakers,  etc.,  and  the  other  78 
worked  around  the  kitchens,  store-rooms,  etc. 

''  The  Guardians  may  here  be  permitted  to  remark  that  if  the 
Foreman  of  this  Grand  Jury,  who  is  also  a  Guardian  of  the  Poor, 
and  sworn  or  affirmed  diligently  to  perform  his  duty  as  a  Guard- 
ian, knew  or  believed  that  the  presentment,  written  by  himself  in 
this  particular  was  true,  it  was  his  duty  to  have  brought  the  mat- 
ter before  the  attention  of  the  Board,  who  alone  could  rectify  the 
abuse,  if  any  existed.  Since  the  publication  of  the  presentment 
the  Board  has,  by  resolution,  in  a  very  respectful  manner,  and 
with  perfect  sincerity,  requested  him  to  submit  a  plan  of  more 
economical  government  of  the  institution,  and  of  a  more  profitable 
employment  of  the  labor  of  the  inmates.  From  want  of  leisure, 
disposition  or  ability,  he  has  not  complied  with  this  request. 

"  The  Guardians  believe  that  the  Grand  Inquest  for  April  had 
been  imposed  upon,  when  they  say  '  from  facts  which  came  to  their 
knowledge,  they  are  convinced  that  persons  confined  in  the  cells 
(for  punishment)  sufi"er  for  want  of  medical  attendance.'  It  seems 
strange  that  such  facts  should  have  come  to  their  knowledge  dur- 
ing one  short  visit,  and  yet  have  entirely  escaped  the  observations 
of  the  Guardians,  who,  either  as  a  Board  or  in  committees,  are  at 
the  Almshouse  three  times  in  every  week. 

"  The  Guardians  have  no  doubt  that  these  pretended  facts  are 
the  allegations  of  the  Foreman  of  the  Jury,  which  had  been  faith- 
fully investigated  by  the  Board,  and  ascertained  to  have  no  other 
foundation  than  his  implacable  hatred  to  an  officer  of  the  institu- 
tion, by  whose  suggestions  and  under  whose  direction  many  of  the 
most  humane  and  important  improvements  have  been  accomplished. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  175 

A  conclusion  the  Grand  Jury  would   have   arrived   at,  had  it  the 
means  and  opportunity  of  making  an  investigation. 

"  The  Board  of  Guardians  would  be  gratified  by,  and  invite 
the  attendance  of  the  municipal  authorities  of  the  city  and  the  dis- 
tricts embraced  in  this  corporation,  and  of  all  citizens  who  feel  an 
interest  in  the  many  difficult,  onerous  and  important  matters  com- 
mitted to  the  management  of  the  Board." 

Published  by  order  of  the  Board. 

Wm.  G.  Flanagax,  President. 

Samuel  J.  Robbins,  Secretary. 


CHAPTER   XV. 

FIRST   FEMALE   PHYSICIAN   EMPLOYED— CHOLERA  AGAIN   IN    1849. 

PHILADELPHIA  was  again  visited  by  cholera  in  1849,  ^^^' 
as  a  consequence,  something-  like  a  panic  prevailed  among 
all  classes.  The  first  three  cases  occurred  on  the  30th 
of  May. 

One  of  the  victims  was  an  Irish  emigrant,  who  arrived  in 
New  York  from  England  a  few  days  before.  The  disease  had  been 
raging  in  Europe  in  1848,  and  probably  the  man  contracted  it 
there.  The  other  two  were  men  employed  on  a  canal  boat  at  Port 
Richmond,     They  all  died  on  the  day  they  were  attacked. 

Owing  to  the  prevalence  of  the  disease  in  Europe,  the  Board 
of  Health  endeavored  to  place  the  city  in  a  favorable  condition  to 
avert,  as  much  as  possible,  the  consequence  of  an  epidemic.  Par- 
ticular attention  was  paid  to  cleansing,  sewerage  and  the  removal 
of  all  nuisances  ;  the  gutters  were  flushed  constantly  with  a  free 
use  of  water,  and  the  School  Controllers  were  requested  to  give  a 
vacation  to  the  children  during  the  epidemic,  and  to  give  the  use 
of  some  of  the  school  buildings  for  hospitals.  They  refused  both 
requests. 

The  city  hospitals  were  opened  in  Cherry,  Pine  and  South 
streets ;  in  the  county  at  Bush  Hill,  Moyamensing,  Southwark, 
Northern  Liberties,  Kensington,  Richmond  and  West  Philadelphia. 

The  number  of  cholera  patients  admitted  to  these  hospitals 
was  344,  and  the  deaths  numbered  iii.  The  whole  number  of 
deaths  in  the  city  and  county  from  the  30th  of  May  to  September 
8th,  was  1012. 

There  were  no  cases  in  the  Almshouse  until  June  27th,  about 
four  weeks  after  the  disease  broke  out  in  the  city. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Guardians  was  held  on  the  13th  of 
July,  at  the  request  of  the  Mayor ;  ways  and  means  were  discussed 
at  length,  but  as  the  members  of  the  Board  had  confidence  in  the 
ability  and  fidelity  of  the  Medical  Staff  they  declined  to  accept  the 
services  of  additional  physicians.  The  mortality  in  the  Alms- 
176 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  177 

house  was  much  greater  than  elsewhere,  as  the  most  of  the  per- 
sons attacked  were  generally  of  broken  down  constitutions,  or 
weak  or  feeble. 

The  death-roll  of  one  week  reached  the  alarming  figures  of  lOO 
in  a  population  of  1,546  ;  all  kinds  of  exaggerated  reports  were  cir- 
culated, and  it  was  feared  that  it  was  even  worse.  During  the  fol- 
lowing week  the  deaths  were  99  in  a  population  of  only  1,358.  The 
ravages  of  the  disease  diminished  rapidly  from  that  time,  and  dur- 
ing the  week  ending  August  7th  there  were  only  58  deaths  in  the 
Almshouse. 

The  medical  men,  nurses  and  most  of  the  persons  employed  at 
Blockley  worked  hard  and  intelligently,  and  the  speedy  mastery  of 
the  disease  can  be  attributed  to  their  efforts. 

The  city  at  large  did  not  suffer  as  heavily  as  was  anticipated, 
owing  to  the  prompt  and  wise  measures  of  the  Board  of  Health. 

In  the  following  December  the  special  committee  made  a  com- 
plete and  interesting  report,  in  which  it  was  stated  :  "  That  the 
epidemic  first  appeared  in  the  institution  on  June  27th.  A  colored 
man,  named  William  Jones,  was  admitted  into  the  black  men's 
medical  ward  from'  the  city  on  that  day  and  died  with  the  disease 
before  night.  The  next  case  was  that  of  Isaac  Wood,  also  colored, 
who  was  brought  in  from  the  city  on  the  29th  following,  and  died  on 
the  same  day.  There  were  nine  other  cases  in  different  parts  of  the 
House  previous  to  the  ist  of  July,  at  which  period  a  hospital  was 
opened  in  the  second  story  of  the  building  known  as  the  wash- 
house.  At  that  time  the  disease  became  quite  alarming,  and  it  is 
believed  that  for  six  or  seven  days  no  regular  record  was  kept  of 
the  admissions  into  the  hospital. 

"  On  the  7th  of  July  the  register  begins  and  gives  an  account 
of  99  males  admitted,  12  of  whom  were  cured  and  8-/  died.  In  the 
female  department  loi  cases  were  admitted,  only  11  of  whom  were 
cured.  On  the  13th  of  July  the  Medical  Board  recommended  that 
two  temporary  hospitals  should  be  erected  outside  of  the  buildings. 
They  fixed  upon  a  site  near  the  gate  on  the  Darby  road.  By  the 
20th  these  buildings  were  so  far  completed  and  furnished  as  to  be 
deemed  fit  for  the  reception  of  patients,  and  they  were  accordingly 
12 


178  History  of  Philadelplii'a  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

occupied  on  that  day.     By  the  registry  there  kept,  it  appears  that 
20  male  patients  were  admitted,  of  whom  three  were  cured. 

"  In  the  female  department  eight  were  admitted,  of  whom  five 
were  cured.  On  the  examination  of  the  '  death  book  '  and  the  regis- 
ters, the  committee  find  a  number  of  cases  and  deaths  of  the  various 
kinds  of  cholera,  which  it  is  believed  are  not  included  among  those 
already  mentioned.  Adding  these,  the  aggregate  of  cholera  cases 
and  deaths  would  be  307  cases  and  229  deaths. 

"  About  the  30th  of  August  the  disease  entirely  diappeared 
from  the  institution,  when  the  committee  gave  directions  to  have 
the  outer  hospitals  taken  down.  The  population  of  the  House  upon 
the  breaking  out  of  the  cholera  was  1,546,  and  at  the  period  of  its 
disappearance  1,397,  being  a  decrease  of  149  in  eight  weeks. 

"  This  difference  is  partly  in  consequence  of  many  of  the 
inmates  being  refnoved  from  the  House  to  the  city  or  districts  and 
there  supported  until  the  epidemic  disappeared. 

"  The  whole  expense  on  account  of  this  visitation  of  the  chol- 
era at  the  Almshouse  is  stated  at  ^4,982.60." 

This  committee  of  Guardians,  including  Michael  Day,  Wil- 
liam P.  Bolton,  Reese  D.  Fell  and  Thomas  Stewart,  were  warmly 
thanked  by  their  colleagues  for  their  labors  in  connection  with  the 
Medical  Board  during  the  ravages  of  the  epidemic. 

Dr.  N.  D.  Benedict,  Chief  Resident  Physician,  resigned  in 
November,  1849.  The  Board  passed  a  fine  eulogium  upon  his 
character  as  a  man  and  his  skill  as  a  physician.  The  doctor 
deserved  it,  as  he  had  shown  himself  to  be  one  of  the  best  that  had 
ever  been  employed  in  the  institution. 

A  number  of  improvements  which  he  suggested  at  the  time  he 
tendered  his  resignation  were  subsequently  adopted.  Dr.  William 
S.  Haines  was  elected  to  fill  the  position,  and  the  salary  was  raised 
to  $2,000. 

Miss  Sarah  Adamson,  a  graduate  of  medicine,  made  applica- 
tion to  the  Board  for  "  such  a  situation  in  the  Blockley  Hospital 
as  will  afford  me  the  opportunity  of  seeing  its  practice  to  such  an 
extent  and  under  such  conditions  as  may  comport  with  the  proper 
regulations  of  the  institution." 


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History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  179 

The  committee,  to  whom  the  request  had  been  referred,  re- 
ported favorably  on  the  25th  of  May,  185 1,  and  a  resolution  was 
adopted  by  the  Guardians  requesting  the  Chief  Resident  Ph\^si- 
cian  to  "  assign  her  to  such  position  as  will  best  enable  her  to 
obtain  the  knowledge  she  desires  without  detriment  to  the  institu- 
tion." 

Dr.  Adamson  was  the  first  female  physician  employed  in  that 
capacity. 

A  contract  had  been  made  for  apparatus  for  heating  and  ventil- 
ating the  Hospital  and  Insane  Departments.  It  \vas  not  satisfac- 
tory and  the  Board  refused  to  pay  the  contractors.  Suit  was  entered 
for  the  amount  the  contractors  claimed  was  due  to  them,  and  a  long 
and  expensive  litigation  followed,  which  was  finally  settled  by  a 
compromise. 

Although  the  Guardians  had  agreed  to  the  settlement  they 
were  determined  to  go  on  record,  and  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted : 

"  Resolved^  That  in  compromising  the  suit  of  Birkenbine  & 
Trotter  it  is  understood  that  it  is  not  an  expression  of  their  ap- 
proval of  the  manner  in  which  the  heating  and  ventilating  appara- 
tus was  constructed  in  the  Hospital  and  Lunatic  Asylum,  but 
adopted  as  a  means  of  economy  and  to  save  further  loss  to  the 
Board." 

The  Board  purchased  the  building  on  North  Seventh  street 
above  Zane,  now  Filbert  street,  in  August,  185 1.  It  has  been  in 
constant  use  since  that  time  as  the  City  Of&ce,  where  application 
for  relief  is  made  and  all  the  outdoor  service  is  performed. 

One  of  the  Resident  Physicians  of  the  Almshouse  is  in  attend- 
ance on  the  mornings  of  the  week  days  to  examine  applicants  and 
to  render  such  assistance  as  may  be  needed. 

Rumors  had  been  circulated  and  much  discussion  indulged  in 
by  the  community  at  large  regarding  the  manner  in  which  supplies 
had  been  purchased  for  the  Almshouse.  Serious  charges  had  been 
made  which  reflected  upon  certain  members  of  the  Board  in  con- 
nection with  these  purchases,  and  it  became  necessary  for  the  repu- 
tation of  the  Guardians  that  certain  facts  should  be  ascertained. 


180  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

To  accomplish  this  Mr.  Alexander  Cummings  moved  "  that 
a  special  committee  be  appointed  to  investigate  the  manner  in 
which  blankets  and  tobacco  had  been  purchased  during  the  past 
year." 

The  committee  appointed  under  this  motion  made  two  reports. 

The  majority  stated  that  "  Four  bales  of  blankets  had  been 
purchased  of  different  parties  at  different  prices,  the  said  blankets 
appearing  to  be  identical  in  quality  ;  that  the  tobacco  furnished, 
and  charged  at  fifteen  cents  per  pound  was  pronounced  by  disinter- 
ested experts  not  worth  seven  cents  per  pound  and  utterly  unfit  for 
use  ;  that  the  committee  had  before  them  no  evidence  that  any 
member  of  the  Board  had  been  interested  in  or  benefitted  by  the 
high  prices  charged  for  goods  submitted  to  them,  but  they  thought 
that  the  members  purchasing  had  neglected  to  give  proper  atten- 
tion to  the  quality  and  price  of  said  goods."  They  recommended 
a  resolution  making  it  the  duty  of  the  House  and  Store  Commit- 
tees to  examine  all  goods  purchased  and  report  to  the  Board  when 
the  price  was  considered  too  high. 

The  resolution  was  adopted.  That  report  was  signed  by  Alex. 
Cummings,  Robert  P.  King  and  A.  I.  Flomerfelt. 

Mr.  Thomas  made  a  minority  report,  stating  that  the  blankets 
were  believed  to  be  purchased  at  second  hand  ;  that  the  tobacco  was 
unfit  for  use,  and  a  better  article  had  been  substituted,  and  that  a 
supply  of  tea  had  been  purchased  in  the  same  manner  as  the 
blankets.  The  minority  report  made  no  charge  against  any  mem- 
ber of  the  Board,  except  that  of  neglect  to  purchase  articles  of 
regular  wholesale  dealers. 

As  might  be  'expected,  public  opinion  was  not  satisfied  with 
ihe  action  of  the  Board ;  it  looked  too  much  like  "  whitewashing," 
and  it  was  thought  that  the  responsibility  for  such  reckless,  if  not 
corrupt  purchases  should  be  put  upon  certain  individuals. 

The  Committee  of  Investigation,  having  been  continued,  made 
a  further  report  on  the  3d  of  June,  1853,  which  stated : 

"  The  committee  appointed  on  the  2d  ult.,  to  inquire  into  cer- 
tain alleged  abuses  in  relation  to  the  purchase  of  supplies  for  the 
House,  respectfully  further  report :  that  they  find  by  an  examin- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  181 

ation  of  the  books,  that,  in  October  last,  a  bale  of  blankets,  con- 
sisting of  147  pairs,  was  purchased,  and  the  bill  rendered  to  the 
Board  in  the  name  of  George  Mustin  at  $3.00  per  pair.  The  pur- 
chase was  made  for  this  Board  by  D.  S.  Beideman  and  the  bill 
endorsed  by  him  and  marked  correct. 

"  Upon  inquiry  we  find  that  George  Mustin  is  not,  and  was 
not,  at  that  time,  engaged  in  any  regular  business,  and  has  no 
means  of  supplying  such  an  order.  In  pursuing  our  inquir}^,  it 
was  ascertained  that  these  blankets  were  procured  by  Mustin  from 
the  firm  of  Watson  &  Co.,  a  respectable  and  responsible  importing 
house,  as  he  alleged  at  the  time,  for  the  Almshouse,  at  $2.45  per 
pair,  less  five  per  cent.,  in  payment  of  which  they  received  the  note 
of  D.  S.  Beideman  at  thirty  days  for  the  identical  blankets  charged 
to  us  at  $3.00.  Yet  he  endorsed  the  bill  to  us  as  correct.  In  addi- 
tion to  this  it  appears  on  the  order  book  that  Mr.  Beideman  drew 
the  money  from  our  treasury  for  the  blankets,  and  so  far  as  the 
record  appears,  here  the  transaction  stops. 

''  Two  months  after  this,  in  December,  another  bill  of  blankets 
was  bought  by  Mr.  Beideman,  and  the  bill  rendered  to  us  in  the 
name  of  E.  Vanhook.  It  is  well  known  that  Mr.  Vanhook  does  not 
deal  in  such  articles,  being  engaged  in  a  business  of  a  totally 
different  nature,  nor  does  it  appear  at  all  clear  how  his  name 
became  connected  with  the  transaction.  He  did  not  allege  that  he 
ever  had  anything  to  do  with  it ;  on  the  contrary,  all  the  evidence 
within  the  reach  of  the  committee  goes  to  show  that  he  was  an 
entire  stranger  to  the  whole  affair,  except  so  far  as  his  name  is 
connected  with  the  bill,  and  why  it  was  used  it  is  impossible  for  us 
to  tell.  He  never  owned  the  blankets  in  any  wa}^,  and  did  not  sell 
them  to  us.  Our  inquiries  have  elicited  the  following  information 
with  regard  to  this  strange  transaction :  The  blankets  were  sold  by 
Lewis  &  Co.,  a  very  respectable  importing  house,  to  D.  S.  Beide- 
man, at  $2.30  per  pair,  and  sent  directly  from  their  store  to  the 
Almshouse,  and  charged  to  D,  S.  Beideman,  and  paid  for  with  his 
note.  These  goods  are  charged  to  us,  as  before  stated,  at  $3.00 
per  pair. 

"  Your  committee  makes  no  comment  on  these  strange  facts ; 


182  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

it  is  their  business,  by  instructions  of  the  Board,  merely  to  present 
this  statement ;  the  conclusions  belong  to  the  Board. 

"  With  regard,  to  the  tobacco  purchased  last  year,  the  quantity 
appears  to  be  unusually  large,  the  whole  amount  being  between 
eight  and  nine  thousand  pounds,  and  nearly  all  purchased  by 
William  Abbott  and  sold  to  us  under  the  name  of  Charles  R- 
Abbott.  Upon  inquiry  we  find  that  Charles  R.  Abbott  is  engaged 
in  the  occupation  of  a  clerk  in  an  iron  establishment  in  Richmond, 
and  in  no  way  connected  with  the  tobacco  trade.  In  several 
instances  the  orders  for  the  tobacco  were  procured  by  Mr.  Abbott 
from  other  members  of  the  Board  under  the  allegation  that  his  son 
was  engaged  in  the  tobacco  trade,  and  was,  at  the  time,  in  the 
receipt  of  invoices  which  he  wished  to  dispose  of.  The  orders  on 
our  treasurer  for  the  payment  of  all  this  tobacco  are  receipted  for 
by  William  Abbott,  and  the  only  connection  that  Charles  R.  Abbott 
seems  to  have  had  with  the  transactions  is  in  the  use  of  his  name 
in  making  out  the  bills  to  us.  He  had  no  tobacco  to  sell,  and,  so 
far  as  3'our  committee  could  learn,  had  no  facilities  at  his  command 
to  fill  these  large  orders  ;  and  the  only  imaginable  reason  that  can 
be  given  for  the  use  of  his  name  is  that  he  or  some  one  else  might 
be  enabled  to  pocket  a  profit  at  our  expense.  . 

"  The  quality  of  the  tobacco  has  been  complained  of  during  the 
whole  year,  and  that  on  hand  at  the  time  of  the  appointment  of 
your  committee  the  Board  has  already  ordered  to  be  returned,  and 
the  money  paid  for  it  to  be  refunded. 

"  These  statements  are  submitted  to  the  Board  in  the  hope 
that  something  may  be  done  to  preserve  its  character  and  to  vindi- 
cate the  integrity  of  its  members.  Accompanying  the  report  are 
tables  showing  the  quantities  and  prices  of  blankets  and  tobacco 
purchased  during  the  last  year,  with  names  of  the  purchasers  and 
persons  selling." 

This  report  was  signed  by  Mr.  Thomas,  in  addition  to  Messrs. 
Cummings,  King  and  Flomerfelt. 

The  minutes  of  the  meeting  at  which  the  report  was  presented 
state  that  Messrs.  Beideman  and  Abbott  both  made  personal  state- 
ments concerning  their  connection  with  the  transactions  referred 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  183 

to  by  the  committee,  but  the  secretary  failed  to  state  what  the 
nature  of  the  statements  was.  The  report  was  laid  on  the  table 
and  the  committee  discharged,  from  the  further  consideration  of 
the  subject. 

It  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  community  looked  upon 
the  Board  with  suspicion.  When  such  a  report  as  that  can  be 
made  and  no  action  taken  upon  it  it  certainly  looks  as  if  the 
majority  were  not  the  kind  of  men  to  be  trusted. 

Mr.  Beideman  appears  to  have  been  a  veritable  Wilkins 
Micawber  in  his  use  of  notes,  and  Mr.  Abbott  will  be  remembered 
by  his  connection  with  the  leaving  of  Nurse  Welsh  and  other 
questionable  transactions. 

Mr.  Alexander  Cummings  appears  to  have  been  determined  to 
prosecute  the  case,  as  on  the  13th  of  June  he  offered  two  resolutions 
to  the  effect  that  William  Abbott  and  D.  S.  Beideman,  having  been 
found  guilty  of  speculating  on  the  treasury,  be  expelled  from  the 
Board, 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  resolutions  were  simply  read  and 
laid  on  the  table,  and  the  accused  members  w^ere  virtually  acquitted 
by  the  Board. 


CHAPTER  XVT. 

CONSOLIDATION    ACT    PASSED— P.    &  W.  C.  RAILROAD    TRACKS   LAID. 

THE  scandal  connected  with  these  infamous  transactions 
brought  the  matter  before  the  Board  again,  in  September, 
1853.  It  was  stated  that  the  accused  had  been  given  no 
opportunity  to  defend  themselves  or  to  explain  their  con- 
nections with  the  purchases  before  the  Investigating  Committee. 
Another  committee,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Smith,  Potts,  Gay,  Flan- 
agan and  Cummings  was  appointed.  On  October  31st  a  report 
was  submitted  which  stated:  "The  committee  appointed  on  the 
19th  ult.  to  inquire  into  the  official  conduct  of  Messrs.  William 
Abbott  and  D.  S.  Beideman,  in  connection  with  certain  alleged 
abuses,  in  the  furnishing  of  tobacco  and  blankets  for  the  Alms- 
house, respectfully  report :  '  That  they  have  received  from  Messrs. 
Abbott  and  Beideman  certain  affidavits,  etc.,  hereto  annexed.  The 
committee  further  report  that  through  their  chairman  they  invited 
Mr.  Charles  R.  Abbott  to  meet  the  committee,  but  he  declined  to 
do  so,  and  also  refused  to  submit  to  the  committee  the  bills  from 
the  parties  from  whom  he  procured  the  tobacco  furnished  in  his 
name.  The  committee  ask  to  be  discharged  from  the  further  con- 
sideration of  the  subject. 

There  is  nothing  in  the  minutes  to  show  the  character  of  the 
affidavits  referred  to,  which  is  unfortunate,  as  there  is  no  reason 
given  for  the  Board's  action.  Resolutions  to  expel  were  again 
voted  down,  and  the  Guardians  were  willing  to  condone  the  offence 
and  stand  by  the  offenders. 

The  tracks  were  laid  for  the  Philadelphia  and  West  Chester 
Railroad  in  1853.  The  road  passed  through  the  grounds  of  the 
Almshouse  on  a  line  with  Thirty-first  Street.  Trestle-work  several 
feet  high  was  erected  to  raise  the  track  up  to  grade,  as  the  meadow 
land  of  the  Almshouse  was  much  lower  than  the  ground  to  the 
north  and  to  the  south.  After  the  tracks  were  laid,  the  ground 
was  filled  in  to  the  established  grade.  The  company  paid  $5,955 
as  damages  for  the  land  taken. 
184 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  185 

Reports  of  cruelty  to  one  of  the  children  bound  out  from  the 
children's  asylum  were  received,  and  after  an  investigation  it  was 
decided  to  appoint  a  new  officer  to  be  known  as  "  visitor  of  children." 
His  duties  were  to  be  to  visit  at  least  once  a  year  all  the  chil- 
dren bound  out  from  the  institution,  to  inquire  into  their  condition 
and  treatment,  and  to  see  that  the  terms  of  their  indenture  were 
faithfully  fulfilled.  This  officer  went  on  duty  in  March,  1854,  and 
the  appointment  proved  to  be  wise,  as  it  checked  the  abuses  that 
by  common  rumor  had  been  quite  frequent. 

On  the  2d  day  of  February,  1854,  the  Act  known  as  the  "  Con- 
solidation Act"  was  passed  by  the  Legislature.  This  was  in  many 
respects  the  most  important  Act  that  was  ever  enacted.  It  abolished 
all  of  the  governments  in  the  districts,  boroughs  and  townships  in 
the  county,  and  turned  them  all  over  to  the  government  of  the  city 
of  Philadelphia.  The  districts  of  Southwark,  Northern  Liberties, 
Kensington,  Spring  Garden,  Moyamensing,  Penn,  Richmond,  West 
Philadelphia  and  Belmont  ceased  to  have  corporate  existence.  The 
boroughs  of  Frankford,  Germantown,  Manayunk,  White  Hall, 
Bridesburg  and  Aramingo  lost  their  franchises ;  and  the  townships 
of  Passyunk,  Blockley,  Kingsessing,  Roxborough,  Bristol,  Ger- 
mantown, Oxford,  Lower  Dublin,  Moreland,  Northern  Liberties 
(unincorporated),  Byberry,  Delaware  and  Penn  were  abolished,  and 
all  the  franchises  and  property  of  these  governments  v/ere  trans- 
ferred to  the  city. 

The  enlarged  city  was  divided  into  twenty-four  wards,  and  the 
Act  provided  for  the  election  of  the  proper  officers  to  transact  the 
business  of  the  municipality. 

The  management  of  the  Poor  department  was  entirely  changed, 
not  only  in  the  mode  of  selecting  the  Guardians,  but  in  the  curtailing 
of  their  powers  and  authority. 

Prior  to  the  passage  of  the  Act,  the  Board  virtually  levied, 
collected  and  expended  the  money  for  the  relief  of  the  poor ;  it 
collected  head  money  from  arriving  immigrants,  amounting  to  as 
much  as  $16,000  in  one  year;  and  a  number  of  fines,  imposed  for 
various  offences,  was  paid  over  to  the  Board.  In  fact,  it  was  almost 
a  government  within  itself. 


186  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

This  Act  revolutionized  that.  One  member  of  the  Board  was 
to  be  elected  from  each  ward  ;  the  Guardians  thus  chosen  were  to 
create  the  department,  and  it  came  under  the  same  rules  and  regu- 
lations as  the  others.  Councils  would  levy  all  taxes,  including 
that  for  the  support  of  the  poor,  and  would  appropriate  what  they 
thought  was  necessary  to  maintain  the  Almshouse  and  supply  the 
other  needs,  to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor. 

This  caused  considerable  friction  and  much  strong  personal 
feeling;  the  Guardians  claimed  that  Councils  were  penurious, 
while  the  Councilinen,  in  many  cases,  charged  the  Guardians  with 
extravagance  and  profligacy.  It  took  a  number  of  years  to  bring 
the  two  bodies  into  harmonious  working. 

The  Act  consolidated  all  the  business  in  the  county  except 
that  for  the  relief  of  the  poor.  It  does  seem  inconsistent  to  find 
the  schools,  police,  fire,  highways,  water  and  other  important  de- 
partments under  the  city  management,  and  at  the  same  time  see 
the  separate  poorhouses  managed  by  district  trustees  or  overseers, 
as  they  have  been  since  they  were  established.  Councils  do  not 
levy  the  poor  tax  in  those  districts,  although  in  all  other  respects 
they  come  under  the  same  government  as  the  other  parts  of  the 
city.  So  far  as  the  S3^stem  of  poor  relief  is  concerned,  the  Act  of 
Consolidation  does  not  consolidate. 

The  first  election,  under  the  new  act,  was  held  on  June  6th, 
1854,  and  the  fi)llowing  gentlemen,  whose  names  are  given  accord- 
ing to  the  number  of  their  wards,  were  elected  Guardians  :  James 
G.  Peale,  John  L-  Hamelin,  L.  L.  Crocker,  G.  W.  Cross,  F.  M. 
Adams,  John  Price  Wetherill,  Robert  P.  King,  J.  Buchanan,  Joseph 
B.  Smith,  T.  S.  Crombarger,  J.  I.  Mathias,  L-  Schrimick,  Townsend 
Smith,  Wm.  F.  Potts,  L.  Henley,  Frederick  Reel,  J.  Fallon,  J.  H. 
Bringhurst,  Oliver  Evans,  Edward  Dingee  and  J.  N.  Marks. 

Dr.  Joseph  D.  Steward,  Chief  Resident  Physician,  died,  and 
Dr.  Archibald  B.  Campbell  was  elected  to  succeed  him. 

On  May  29th,  1854,  Mr.  Cummings  presented  the  following: 

"  Whereas,  Various  rumors  are  in  circulation  as  to  one  of 
the  members  of  this  Board  having  been  found  spending  the  night 
in  the  Women's  Department  of  the  Almshouse :  and, 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  187 

"  Whereas,  Such  a  practice  must  give  rise  to  suspicion  of 
improper  conduct ;  therefore, 

^^  Resolved,  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  inquire  into  the 
circumstance  of  this  case  and  report  to  the  Board." 

The  President  called  Mr.  Flanagan  to  the  chair  and  took  the 
floor  ;  he  opposed  the  appointment  of  a  committee  to  trj^  him  in 
secret,  being  conscious,  from  rumors,  that  he  was  the  person  referred 
to  in  the  resolution,  as  asking  that  a  fair  and  impartial  trial  might 
be  had  in  the  matter  by  the  Board  itself,  acting  as  a  committee. 

Mr.  Evans  moved  to  strike  out  all  after  the  word  resolved,  and 
insert  that  "  when  we  adjourn,  we  adjourn  to  meet  on  Wednesday- 
afternoon  next,  at  3  o'clock,  when  an  investigation  into  the  matter 
contained  in  the  preamble  may  be  made,  that  witnesses  may  be 
present  to  give  evidence  thereof." 

This  was  adopted,  and  when  the  Board  met  in  accordance  with 
it,  Drs.  Budd,  Mitchell,  Woodward  and  Eastman  of  the  Almshouse 
were  present. 

They  were  separately  examined  as  to  "  whether  they  knew  of  a 
member  of  the  Board  having  been  found  spending  the  night  in  the 
Women's  Department  of  the  Almshouse."  Drs.  Budd,  Mitchell 
and  Woodward  testified  that  Mr.  Townsend  Smith,  President  of 
the  Board,  had  spent  a  night  in  the  Physicians'  Room,  located  in 
that  portion  of  the  building  known  as  the  West  Centre,  and  that 
there  were  no  women  there.  They  further  testified,  as  did  Dr. 
Eastman,  that  they  never  knew  of  any  immoral  conduct  on  the 
part  of  Mr.  Smith  at  any  time.  This  closed  the  investigation,  and 
a  resolution  was  offered  and  carried  by  a  large  majority,  which 
■exonerated  Mr.  Smith  from  all  blame. 

It  was  thought  that  the  rumor  which  caused  this  investigation 
w^as  nothing  but  spitework,  as  Mr.  Smith  was,  for  many  years,  a 
useful  and  active  member  of  the  Board,  and  had  served  as  its 
Treasurer. 

The  new  Board  organized  on  the  3d  of  July,  1854.  Mr.  F.  M. 
Adams  was  chosen  to  preside,  and  S.  Snyder  Leidy  was  con- 
tinued as  Secretary.  Daniel  Smith,  the  experienced  Steward,  was 
re-elected. 


188  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

A  request  was  sent  to  Councils  for  an  appropriation  of  $5, ceo 
for  the  immediate  use  of  the  Board.  Nearly  $100,000  was  asked 
for  to  pay  the  expenses  of  the  department  during  the  balance  of 
the  year. 

The  new  Board  had  hardly  started  in,  when  charges  of  negli- 
gence and  corruption  were  made  against  some  of  the  members. 
The  new  President,  Mr.  Adams,  who  was  charged  in  the  news- 
papers with  purchasing  sour  flour,  demanded  an  investigation. 

After  the  examination  of  witnesses,  the  Board  passed  a  resolu- 
tion which  completely  exonerated  him.  This  was  but  the  begin- 
ning, and  it  did  not  look  as  though  the  community  had  much 
confidence  in  the  new  administration. 

The  cholera  again  m.ade  its  appearance  in  the  Almshouse  on 
July  7th,  1854.  Some  few  cases  of  it  appeared  as  late  as  the  begin- 
ning of  November.  Most  of  the  cases  were  treated  in  the  Smallpox 
Hospital  near  the  gate  on  Darby  Road,  and  in  a  small  building 
adjacent  to  it.  There  appears  to  have  been  about  300  cases  of  the 
disease,  of  which  about  one-half  proved  fatal. 

It  did  not  take  long  to  start  more  scandal.  Rumors  connect- 
ing the  name  of  Mr.  George  W.  Cross,  the  representative  of  the 
Fourth  Ward,  with  speculative  purchases,  etc.,  were  freely  circu- 
lated. A  special  meeting  of  the  Board  was  held,  "  To  inquire  into 
abuses  alleged  to  have  been  made  in  the  purchase  of  flour  within 
four  months." 

Mr.  Anson  Gray,  a  member  of  Councils,  certified  that  Mr. 
Cross  had  purchased  100  barrels  from  his  brother,  Mr.  Wm.  H- 
Gray,  for  the  Almhouse.  The  price  was  $8.75  per  barrel,  or  i2>^ 
cents  advance  on  the  cost  of  the  flour,  which  was  bought  from 
James  Steele  &  Co. 

Mr.  Gray  said  that  Gray  &  Brother  charged  the  Guardians 
the  same  as  other  parties  could  purchase  the  flour  for,  and  no  more; 
he  fully  exculpated  Mr.  Cross  from  the  suspicion  of  defrauding 
the  public  by  making  a  profit  on  the  flour. 

Mr.  Gray  further  stated,  that  a  member  of  the  old  Board  had 
intimated  that  if  he  did  not  go  to  see  the  Controller  the  bill  M^ould 
not  be  passed.     This  he  declined  to  do. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  189 

The  other  parties  mentioned  appeared  and  corroborated  Mr. 
Gray's  statement. 

The  Board  passed  a  resolution  exonerating  Mr.  Cross,  and 
"  expressing  regrets  that  slanderous  and  unfounded  rumors  should 
be  circulated  reflecting  upon  the  Guardians  and  respectable  busi- 
ness men  with  whom  they  dealt." 

Mr.  Cross  was  not  so  fortunate  later  on. 

An  application  was  made  to  the  Board  in  December,  1854,  for 
the  admission  of  150  paupers  into  the  Almshouse,  they  having 
been  brought  in  a  body  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia. 

The  Guardians  refused  to  admit  them,  but  to  supply  their  im- 
mediate necessities  a  small  appropriation  was  made. 

The  conduct  of  the  New  York  authorities  in  their  attempt  to 
throw  these  people  on  the  tax  payers  of  Philadelphia,  called  for 
expression  of  much  indignation  on  the  part  of  the  press  and  the 
community  at  large.  It  is  a  common  wa}'  of  getting  rid  of  unde- 
sirable burdens,  and  is  practiced  even  up  to  the  present  time,  but 
not  so  openly  as  this  was. 

Mr.  Cross  was  again  brought  to  the  front,  and  he  did  not  come 
out  with  flying  colors  as  he  did  before. 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  lield  on  April  i6th,  1855,  ^^^ 
President  stated  "  that  an  editorial  appeared  in  the  Pennsylva7iian 
on  Friday,  reflecting  seriously  on  the  conduct  of  a  member  of  this 
Board  for  passing  '  poor  orders  '  in  payment  of  his  own  private 
debts."  A  committee  was  appointed  to  inquire  into  the  matter  and 
report.  "  As  one  of  the  members  of  that  committee,  I  have  to  say 
that  Mr.  Hamelin  and  myself  called  at  the  office  of  the  Pennsyl- 
vanian  and  saw  Mr.  Rice,  the  proprietor,  who  informed  us  that 
they  had  the  orders,  and  if  we  would  call  at  3  o'clock  we  would 
learn  more  in  relation  to  them."  '  Mr.  Adams  said  that  "  after 
leaving  the  office,  he  met  Mr.  Kdward  G.  Webb,  who  is  represented 
as  being  connected  with  the  Pennsylvanian^  and  after  some  conver- 
sation, Webb  exhibited  two  '  poor  orders  '  for  one  dollar  each,  drawn 
in  favor  of  certain  persons,  and  passed  to  the  credit  of  one  Patrick 
G.  Coyle,  a  gardener.  The  said  poor  orders  were  signed  by  G.  W. 
Cross,  a  member  of  this  Board," 


190  History  of   Philadelphia  x\lmshouses  and  Hospitals. 

At  a  hearing  of  the  case  Mr.  Patrick  G.  Coyle  was  called,  and 
lie  stated  "  that  Mr.  Cross  had  owed  him  $1.25  for  trimming  some 
vines,  etc.,  in  his  garden  ;  that  lie  made  a  bill  for  the  same,  sent  it 
to  Mr.  Cross'  house  for  collection,  but  without  success.  He  (Mr. 
Coyle)  finally  called  on  the  31st  of  March  to  get  payment  for  the 
bill.  Mr.  Cross  said  lie  would  call  and  see  him,  which  lie  did ;  he 
asked  for  pen  and  ink,  and  inquired  if  I  knew  Mr.  Quigley,  the 
grocer.  I  answered  that  I  did.  He  (Cross)  then  filled  out  an 
order  for  a  dollar's  w^orth  of  groceries,  and  threw  it  on  the  table, 
and  I  asked  who  the  order  was  for.  Cross  answered  '  for  you.'  I 
said,  I'm  no  pauper  and  don't  need  it ;  I  work  for  my  wants.  Cross 
then  filled  another  order  for  the  same  amount,  threw  it  on  the 
table  and  left.  I  again  sent  to  collect  the  bill,  when  Cross  said, 
I've  seen  Mr.  Coyle,  and  thought  it  was  sufiicient.'' 

After  the  article  appeared  in  the  papers,  Coyle  having  given 
the  poor  orders  to  Mr.  Webb,  Cross  called  on  Coyle  and  asked  him 
whether  he  had  seen  the  publication.  Coyle  said  that  he  had  not, 
but  supposed  it  was  all  true.  Cross  wanted  the  orders  and  said  there 
were  men  quite  as  good  and  better  than  Coyle,  who  received  these 
orders.  Coyle  also  testified  that  "  Cross  acted  as  though  he  was 
sailing  under  a  heavy  press  of  whiskey." 

Mr.  Cross  made  a  short  speech,  in  which  he  disclaimed  any 
intention  to  defraud  the  city. 

At  another  meeting  of  the  Board,  after  the  committee's  report 
was  submitted,  the  following  very  curious  preamble  and  resolution 
were  adopted  without  a  dissenting  vote : 

"  Whereas,  The  Board  of  Guardians,  after  a  deliberate  and 
patient  investigation  of  the  charges  made  against  George  W.  Cross, 
a  member  of  this  Board,  to  the  effect  that  the  said  George  W.  Cross 
had  given  away  orders  for  groceries  intended  for  the  relief  of  the 
poor,  in  payment  of  his  own  private  debts,  this  Board  are  of  the 
opinion  that  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses  produced  to  substan- 
tiate said  charges  is  not  of  itself  sufficient  to  justify  any  decisive 
action  ;  yet  taken  in  connection  with  the  admissions  of  Mr.  Cross, 
particularly  as  to  his  having  been,  at  the  time  of  the  occurrence  of 
the  transactions  complained  of,  in  a  state  of  intoxication,  and  inca- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  191 

pable  of  explaining  the  same  satisfactorily,  they  are  compelled  to 
consider  the  charges  proven  ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  George  W.  Cross  be,  and  he  is  hereby  ex- 
pelled from  the  Board." 

It  could  not  be  expected  that  the  action  of  the  Board  and  the 
exposure  of  such  contemptible  business,  would  raise  the  reputation 
of  the  Guardians  very  much  in  the  estimation  of  the  public.  Such 
transactions  are  calculated  to  bring  odium  on  all  connected  with 
them. 

At  this  time  there  was  considerable  comment  about  certain 
members  who  were  in  the  habit  of  taking  large  numbers  of  their 
special  friends  to  the  Almshouse  on  Sundays,  and  drinking  freely 
of  intoxicating  liquors.  Liquor  was  at  the  command  of  tiie  Guard- 
ians, and  some  of  the  best  members  tried  in  vain  to  correct  the 
abuse  of  it.  The  expulsion  of  Cross,  and  the  denunciation  of  the 
Sabbath,  sprees  in  the  newspapers  in  a  manner  checked  it  somewhat. 


CHAPTER   XVII. 

GUARDIANS  OF  THE  POOR  KNOWN  AS  BOARD  OF  BUZZARDS. 

THE  Guardians  elected  in  the  spring  of  1855  took  their  seats 
in  July.  A  majority  of  the  old  board  had  been  re-elected. 
Joseph  B.  Smith  was  chosen  President,  S.  Snyder  Leidy, 
Secretary  and  Treasurer,  and  Daniel  Smith  was  unani- 
mously elected  Steward  of  the  Almshouse.  Dr.  Robert  K.  Smith 
was  elected  Chief  Resident  Physician,  in  place  of  Dr.  A.  B.  Camp- 
bell. This  change  caused  considerable  feeling ;  Dr.  Campbell 
charged  that  his  personal  and  professional  character  had  been 
impugned  and  threatened  suit  against  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Board. 

At  a  meeting  on  the  9th  of  July  the  following  resolution  was 
adopted : 

^^ Resolved^  That  a  committee  of  thre.e  be  appointed  to  gather 
testimony  as  to  the  neglect  and  inefficiency  manifested  on  the 
part  of  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell  as  Chief  Resident  Physician,  to  be 
prepared  to  meet  any  action  he  may  bring  against  this  Board,  as 
referred  to  in  his  communication.'' 

Dr.  Campbell  remained  in  the  institution  and  declared  that  he 
would  continue  there,  notwithstanding  the  election  of  Dr.  Smith. 

The  difficulty  was  adjusted,  however,  without  any  legal  pro- 
ceedings, and  Dr.  Smith  went  on  duty. 

The  feeling  entertained  for  the  Board  of  Guardians  was  clearly 
shown  when  Councils  took  up  the  appropriation  bills  in  the  fall. 
The  newspapers  had  frequently  commented  upon  the  alleged  "  enor- 
mous expenditures  and  the  extravagant  manner  in  which  the  busi- 
ness of  the  Board  was  carried  on."  Councils  refused  to  make  the 
appropriations  asked  for.  iVll  kinds  of  charges  were  made  against 
the  Guardians,  and  the  Board  referred  tke  whole  subject  to  a  com- 
mittee for  consideration.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Guardians  held  on 
September  17th,  1855,  Mr.  Bringhurst  presented  the  following  pre- 
amble and  resolutions  as  a  report  from  the  committee,  and  they 
were  adopted  as  a  reply  to  the  charges  made. 
192 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  193 

"  Whereas,  The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  though  they  have  been  aware  that  there  had 
appeared  in  some  of  the  newspapers,  from  time  to  time,  in  different 
forms,  most  gross  and  unjustifiable  statements  and  imputations  in 
respect  to  the  management  of  the  department  under  their  care, 
originating,  as  was  supposed,  from  some  sources  entitled  to  but  little 
consideration  and  prompted  by  unworthy  motives,  have  forborne  to 
publicly  notice  them,  trusting  that  both  the  character  and  motives 
of  the  professional  fault-finders  would  be  appreciated  as  they 
deserved. 

"  But  as  these  statements  and  imputations  have  been  echoed  in 
the  City  Councils,  and  have  been  indorsed  by  members  with  addi- 
tions, as  appears  by  the  published  proceedings  of  the  Common 
Council  on  Thursday  last,  and  as  forbearance  to  notice  them  from 
this  source  might  be  considered  as  an  admission  of  their  truth,  it 
is  deemed  proper,  in  vindication  of  themselves,  to  characterize 
these  allegations  in  respect  to  this  department  as  being,  in  the 
mildest  sense  they  deserve,  gross  and  untrue  exaggerations  ;  and, 
as  preliminary  to  the  connection  of  the  matter  referred  to,  it  may 
be  well  to  notice  that,  since  the  Act  of  Consolidation  went  into 
effect,  the  members  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  became 
such  by  virtue  of  election  by  the  same  constituency  that  placed 
members  of  Councils  in  positions  they  occupy,  except  as  to  those 
whose  constituents  have  no  direct  interest  in  the  department,  and 
who,  though  they  are  not  taxed  for  its  support,  are  allowed  a  con- 
trol in  its  affairs  through  their  representatives  ;  thus  exhibiting  the 
anomaly  of  representation  without  taxation.  And  it  is  fair  to 
assume  that  as  much  respect  was  had  by  their  constituents  in  the 
selection  of  men  who,  from  their  intelligence,  public  spirit  and 
fidelity  to  the  public  interests,  are  as  much  entitled  to  public  confi- 
dence as  they  selected  and  elected  to  other  positions.  They  also 
bear  their  full  share  of  burthen  of  this  community  with  their 
fellows,  in  or  out  of  office. 

"  One  member  of  Councils  is  reported  to  have  said  that  the 
expenses  of  the  Almshouse  had  doubled  within  a  year  or  two,  and 
attributed  the  cause  to  the  inefficiency  of  this  Board.     As  the  alle- 

13 


194  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

gation  itself  is  not  a  fact,  the  conclusion  has  no  support.  The 
actual  total  expenditures  of  the  Guardians  for  the  support  of  the 
House,  and  on  account  of  the  manufactory,  farm  and  in  and  about 
the  premises,  from  the  20th  of  May,  1853,  to  the  20tli  of  May, 
1854,  was  $136,606.56.  There  were  during  that  time  provisions, 
clothing,  medicines,  medical  attendance,  nurses  and  attendants  for 
the  insane  and  sick,  with  their  board,  beds,  bedding  and  all  other 
necessaries  furnished  for  an  average  of  1,828  inmates,  consisting  of 
400  lunatics,  400  sick  and  diseased,  the  aged,  the  infirm,  the 
maimed,  the  blind,  the  idiotic,  the  deformed,  the  ruptured,  the 
incurable  and  others  hopelessly  addicted  to  habits  wHicli  wholly 
unfits  them  for  self-maintenance,  making  a  cost  of  $1.44  per  week 
for  each ;  wbile  the  total  expenditures  for  the  same  purposes  from 
July  2d,  1854,  to  July  2d,  1855,  was  $189,502.17,  for  an  average 
population  of  2,147  of  the  same  description,  making  a  cost  of  $1.69 
per  week  for  each. 

"  The  total  cost  of  the  House  has  been  increased  by  the 
increase  of  population,  and  the  increase  of  cost  of  each,  article  of 
supplies  during  the  past  over  the  previous  year,  as  all  house- 
keepers, at  least,  have  ample  proof,  by  extra  draft  on  the  pocket. 
In  view  of  these  facts  the  expenditures  of  the  Board,  under  the 
present  organization,  compared  to  that  of  former  Boards,  works  no 
disparagement  to  the  present  is  clear  to  a  demonstration. 

"  The  increase  of  population,  too,  can  be  be  accounted  for  upon 
facts  which  can  not  have  failed  to  present  themselves  to  all  reflect- 
ing minds,  which  ought  to  excite,  did  excite,  and  brought  into 
active  and  effective  operation  the  sympathies  of  the  community 
during  the  past  year,  viz  :  the  general  depression  of  business,  the 
lack  of  employment  for  the  mechanics  and  the  laboring  people — 
male  and  female — the  low  price  of  labor  when  obtained,  and  the 
high  prices  of  almost  every  necessary,  reluctantly  compelled  many 
who  had  aged,  infirm,  blind,  crippled  or  sick  dependents  upon  them 
for  support  to  send  them  to  the  Almshouse,  as  a  relief  to  them- 
selves, from  a  burthen  they  were  unable  to  bear;  for  the  same 
reason,  too,  in  connection  with  the  high  price  of  fuel  of  all  kinds, 
the  out-door  expenditures  M^ere  greatly  increased  during  the  last 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  195 

winter  over  previous  years.  But  these  are  at  present  at  as  low  a 
point  as  they  have  been  for  3^ears,  and  further  reduction,  it  is 
believed,  will  tend  to  swell  the  population  of  the  House. 

"  A  little  reflection  on  the  subject  and  a  little  trouble  to  obtain 
information,  which  was  at  all  times  obtainable,  and  a  discreet 
use  of  both,  would  have  saved  the  member  from  the  position 
he  has  placed  himself  in,  of  an  accuser  of  the  present  Board  of 
Guardians  of  "  inefficiency,"  in  the  absence  of  facts  to  support  the 
accusation. 

"  In  respect  to  the  alleged  fact  that  persons  go  to  the  Alms- 
house, get  married,  and  have  children  there,  the  present  Board 
have  no  knowledge,  and  presume  that  if  such  things  ever  did 
happen  there  (and  it  is  presumed  that  such  cases  are  rare  at  any 
time)  it  was  previous  to  the  connection  of  any  of  the  present  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  under  its  present  organization. 

"  And  Whereas,  Another  member  is  reported  to  have  said : 
'  That  he  could  lay  his  hand  on  some  $8,000  which  had  been 
expended  for  segars,  brandies,  etc.,  and  how  much  more  he  was 
unable  to  say,  in  banqueting  at  the  Almshouse.' 

"  If  the  allegation  is  intended  to  be  understood  as  meaning  an 
actual  expenditure  (and  it  seems  to  be  a  fair  inference  from  the 
statement  that  it  was  so  intended)  under  the  present  organization 
of  the  Board,  for  banqueting  by  the  Guardians,  in  which  they  parti- 
cipated, or  were  accessory  to,  he  has  placed  himself  in  the  position 
of  having  determined  to  '  go  it  blind  '  in  assailing  the  official  acts, 
integrity  and  moral  standing  of  men  who  can  boldly  challenge  an 
equal  degree  of  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  community  at 
large  for  all  the  qualities,  including  that  of  fidelity  to  public  trust, 
which  constitute  good  citizens,  as  the  member  himself.  One  thing 
is  certain,  a  much  longer  residence  in  this  community  has  afforded 
the  people  greater  opportunities  for  scrutinizing  and  forming  an 
opinion  of  them. 

"Charity,  however,  dictates  the  conclusion  that  ignorance  of 
the  subject,  as  evinced  by  his  allegation,  and  a  forgetfulness,  in 
his  case  at  least,  of  the  respect  due  from  a  gentlemen  to  his  equals, 
had  led  him  to  make  the  assertion  that  he  could  lay  his,  hand  on 


196  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

what  has  no  existence  in  point  of  fact,  and  in  attempting  to  do 
which  he  would  discover  that  he  would  be  in  the  condition  of  the 
Irishman  and  the  flea —it  would  be  absent. 

"  The  allegation  is  too  monstrous  for  even  the  more  gullable 
to  swallow  as  a  fact,  and  is  dismissed  with  the  suggestion  that  if 
the  gentleman  would  act  upon  the  homely  but  wise  rule,  '"  Be  sure 
you  are  right,  then  go  ahead,'  and  not  upon  that  of  go  ahead, 
whether  you  are  right  or  wrong,  he  would  not  be  so  likely  to  com- 
mit acts  of  injustice  and  wrong  against  others. 

"  And  Whereas,  Another  member  is  reported  as  having  com- 
mented upon  the  same  subject  in  condemnation  of  the  Guardians, 
closing  with  an  insinuation  as  to  the  paternity  of  some  of  the 
children  born  in  the  Almshouse,  which  may  have  been  intended  as 
a  joke,  and  if  so  he  is  welcome  to  enjoy  it,  but  if  otherwise 
intended  it  might  be  thrown  back  with  propriety  upon  himself. 
One  thing  is  a  serious  fact,  and  that  is  that  the  locality  he  specially 
represents  has  its  full  share  of  representatives  in  the  Almshouse 
in  the  shape  of  babies. 

"The  delay  of  Councils  in  making  an  appropriation  for  the 
use  of  the  Guardians  in  support  of  the  department  is  working  in 
direct  increase  of  expenditures  far  exceeding  any  made  in  the  way 
in  which  some  of  the  members  are  so  flippantly  eloquent  in  com- 
plaint of,  from  the  fact  that  purchases  cannot  be  made  in  view  of 
the  present  condition  of  affairs  from  less  than  from  8  to  12  per 
cent,  advance  upon  prices  at  which  they  could  be  obtained  under  a 
more  favorable  one. 

"  That  supplies  must  be  furnished  at  the  House  is  an  impera- 
tive necessity  demanded  by  every  sentiment  of  humanity.  To 
permit  the  unfortunate  creatures  herein  described  to  suffer  cannot, 
and-  will  not,  be  tolerated  in  a  community  whose  people  are  ever 
read}^,  voluntarily,  to  send  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  of 
dollars  to  relieve  the  sufi"erings  of  the  destitute  in  distant  commu- 
nities, therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  the  assertion  that  brandy,  wine  or  other 
spirituous  liquors  are  used  by  the  members  of  this  Board,  or  have 
been  since  its  organization,  is  maliciously  false  in  every  particular, 


(f> 

H 

J3 

m 
m 
H 


m 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  107 

and  those  who  made  such  assertions  must  have  known  this  or 
possessed  no  knowledge  of  what  they  were  speaking. 

"  Resolved^  That  dinners  are  not  furnished  this  Board,  nor 
ever  have  been  since  its  existence. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  delay  by  the  Councils  to  make  the  neces- 
sary appropriation  to  draw  warrants  upon,  b}^  this  Board,  is  attended 
with  no  other  results  than  of  injury  to  the  credit  of  the  Board, 
causing  a  higher  price  to  be  paid  for  such  goods  as  they  are  com- 
pelled to  buy,  thereby  increasing  the  taxes  to  that  extent,  which 
the  citizens  have  to  pay," 

This  shows  the  feeling  that  existed  between  the  members  of 
Councils  and  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and  one  can  form  an  opinion 
as  to  the  character  of  the  men  of  both  bodies.  It  did  not  have  any 
effect  on  the  Councilmen,  and  the  appropriations  were  still  kept 
back.  The  credit  of  the  city  at  that  period  was  not  very  high,  and 
the  Guardians  were  compelled  to  get  along  as  well  as  they  were 
able  under  such  circumstances. 

Hon.  Robert  T.  Conrad,  Mayor  of  the  city,  in  his  annual 
message  to  Councils,  in  February,  1856,  referred  to  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Department  of  the  Poor  in  very  strong  language,  and 
said :  "  The  call  made  upon  this  department  has  remained  unan- 
swered. There  is,  perhaps,  no  branch  of  the^  government  in  rela- 
tion to  which  there  is  so  ample  scope  for  improvement  and  reform. 
The  attention  of  Councils  is  respectively  invited  to  the  recommenda- 
tions made  on  this  subject  in  a  former  message.  An  enlightened 
and  prudent  revision  of  the  present  system,  in  all  its  details,  would 
be  attended  with  important  results  and  advantages,  not  only  by 
checking  the  present  inordinate  expenditure,  but  by  the  discourage- 
ment of  idleness  and  pauperism." 

Of  course  this  was  answered  by  the  Guardians,  and  they 
adopted  resolutions  in  which  they  expressed  their  regrets  "that  the 
misrepresentations  to  which  this  Board  has  been  subjected  are  being 
continued  ;  and  they  invited  Councils  to  appoint  a  Special  Com- 
mittee of  Investigation  to  inquire  into  the  details  of  the  policy 
pursued  by  the  Board." 

The  Guardians  subsequently  concluded  to  discontinue  all  out- 


198  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

door  relief,  except  in  cases  of  sickness.  Even  after  the  appropria- 
tions were  made  for  the  year  1856  the  Board  found  that  it  could  not 
continue  its  system  of  out-door  relief  on  such  an  extensive  scale. 

On  the  7th  of  July,  1856,  a  new  Board,  was  organized  by  the 
election  of  Mr.  Oliver  Evans  as  President,  and  F.  A.  Server  as 
Treasurer.  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell  was  reinstated  in  his  old  position 
of  Chief  Resident  Physician  of  the  Almshouse.  As  Mr.  Daniel 
Smith  did  not  desire  to  continue  any  longer  as  Steward,  Mr.  Charles 
Murphy  was  chosen  to  succeed  him. 

The  Board  consisted  of  Messrs.  John  F.  Heishley,  Wm.  T. 
Lafferty,  A.  R.  Kauffman,  Robert  Selfridge,  John  R.  Angney,  Will- 
iam Riddle,  F.  A,  Server,  John  Hartman,  N.  R.  Moseley,  Charles 
Ta^'lor,  James  D.  Brown,  John  Dunlap,  Marshall  Henzey,  William 
F.  Potts,  Andrew  Hackett,  James  Smith,  James  Lloyd,  John  H. 
Bringhurst,  Oliver  Evans,  Isaac  M.  Post  and  Alex.  C.  Garvin. 

The  majority  of  them  were  elected  by  the  Democrats.  They 
made  an  effort  to  reduce  the  expenditures,  but  very  soon  after  they 
assumed  the  management  of  the  Department  they  were  called  the 
"  Board  of  Buzzards,"  and  were  known  as  such  for  many  years. 

After  Hon.  Richard  Vaux  had  been  inducted  into  of&ce  as 
Mayor,  he  requested  a  report  from  Dr.  Campbell,  as  to  the  condi- 
tions existing  in  the  Almshouse.  The  following  extracts  from  the 
report  of  the  Chief  Resident  Physician  show  a  terrible  state  of 
affairs,  and  reflect  no  credit  upon  any  one  connected  with  the  man- 
agement of  the  institution.     The  doctor  said  : 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  state  :  This  institution,  usually  called 
the  Almshouse,  comprises  within  it  a  smallpox  hospital,  a  lunatic 
asylum,  a  children's  asylum,  a  lying-in  department,  a  nursery,  a 
hospital  for  medical,  surgical,  venerial  and  mania-a-potu  cases ; 
besides  the  Almshouse  properly  so  called,  which  is  in  reality  an 
infirmary  for  the  blind,  the  lame,  the  superannuated,  and  other 
incurables  so  decrepit  as  not  to  be  able  to  earn  for  themselves  a 
livelihood. 

"  The  nambsrof  able-bodied  men  and  women,  although  to  the 
eye  of  the  casual  observer  apparentl}^  la-^ge,  is  really  comparatively 
small  and  consists  chiefly  of  those  vagrants  who  spend  their  lives  in 


History  of  Philadelphii  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  19!) 

alternating   between  the   low  down   dens   of   vice  througliont  the 
city,  the  county  prison  and  this  institution. 

"  These  are  the  ones  who  disgrace  themselves  and  humanity, 
and  by  their  presence  bring  a  stigma  upon  the  afflicted  and  the 
unfortunate,  who  are  compelled  here  to  seek  relief  and  support, 
which  would  not  attach  to  them  if  this  place  was  in  name,  and,  in 
the  opinion  of  many  in  the  community,  what  it  is  in  realit}^,  a  hos- 
pital. These  constitute  the  proper  subjects  for  a  House  of  Cor- 
rection, which  is  so  urgently  required. 

"  This  building,  although  it  covers  an  area  of  sixteen  acres  of 
ground,  is  even  now  too  small  in  many  of  the  wards  to  furnish 
accommodations  for  the  sick  ;  and,  from  its  construction  does  not 
permit  encroachments  to  be  made  from  the  men's  side  of  the  differ- 
ent departments  upon  the  women's  side.  So  that  while  the  men's 
side  of  the  lunatic  asylum  and  the  women's  .side  of  the  hospital 
still  have  nearly  room  enough,  the  women's  side  of  the  lunatic 
asylum  requires  now  one-third  more  room  for  the  present  number  ; 
in  the  open  wards  many  sleep  on  the  floor,  and  in  each  of  the  cells, 
80  in  number,  which  should  be  used  by  one  alone,  have  to  be  occu- 
pied by  two,  and  in  some  cases  by  three  at  one  time  ;  and  the  men's 
side  of  the  hospital  would  require,  the  whole  wing  now  occupied 
by  the  children's  asylum  for  its  accommodation. 

''  On  the  third  floor,  men's  medical  wards,  the  wards  are 
full,  and  there  have  been  100  sick  crowded  into  a  long  garret,  about 
7  feet  high  by  18  feet  wide,  with  no  ventilation,  and  no  means  of 
discharging  the  impure  exhalations  arising  from  the  bodies  and 
breaths,  but  the  sliding  windows,  one  pane  of  glass  in  height,  the 
draft  from  which  being  over  the  heads  of  the  beds,  was  as  danger- 
ous almost  as  their  foetid  emanations.  There  are  only  a  few 
patients  at  this  moment  in  these  garrets,  but  the  season  approaches 
when  they  will  be  more  fully  occupied.  On  the  second  floor  white 
men,  with  diseased  eyes,  occupy  one  side,  and  black  men  with  sur- 
gical and  venereal  diseases,  boys  and  men  indiscriminately  mingled, 
occupy  the  other  side  of  the  same  ward  ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  the 
beds  are  too  numerous  in  the  other  wards. 

"The  effect  of  this  over-crowding  is,  that   all   the   cases   are 


200  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

much  longer  in  recovering  than  they  would  otherwise  be,  and  in 
many  instances  men  remain  blind  who  under  more  advantageous  cir- 
cumstances would  have  recovered  their  sight. 

"  But  the  most  disastrous  results  from  crowding  and  want  of 
ventilation  occur  on  the  first  floor.  For  years  past  there  has  not 
been  a  bed  unoccupied,  and  sometimes  there  is  a  patient  sleeping 
on  the  floor  for  every  one  on  a  bedstead — once  even  when  the  hall 
was  filled  with  bedsteads.  The  result  is  an  erysipelatous  and  gan- 
grenous atmosphere  pervades  them  in  spite  of  my  most  strenuous 
efforts.  I  have  everything  taken  out  of  each  ward  at  a  time.  It 
is  whitewashed,  and  the  floors  and  windows  are  scrubbed ;  the  bed- 
steads are  scrubbed  and  varnished,  and  when  dry  replaced ;  every 
article  of  bed-clothing  is  fresh  from  the  wash-tubs,  and  the  bed- 
sacks  are  filled  with  fresh  straw  ;  but  this  infection  lingers,  though 
in  a  lighter  degree. 

"  The  consequence  of  this  has  been,  that  if  a  patient  is  brought 
in  with  his  throat  cut,  although  the  wound  is  not  mortal,  he  dies  of 
gangrene.  If  an  amputation  be  performed,  the  man,  who  should 
recover,  dies  in  a  week  of  gangrene  in  the  stump.  If  a  minor 
operation  be  done,  erysipelas  attacks  the  wound,  and  it  is  much 
longer  than  it  should  be  in  healing. 

"  The  unfortunate  condition  of  things  on  this  floor  might  be, 
to  some  considerable  extent,  remedied  by  transferring  the  adjoining 
ward  from  the  children's  asylum  to  the  men's  surgical  wards. 

"  This  room  could  be  spared  from  the  children's  asylum,  with 
some  inconvenience  it  is  true,  but  without  serious  detriment  to  the 
interests  of  that  department.  That  transfer,  however,  would  be 
but  temporary  relief,  and  to  a  very  limited  extent.  It  might,  and 
would  probably,  aid  in  removing  the  hospital  gangrene. 

"But  the  hospital  now  requires  the  whole  of  the  children's 
wing,  and  every  year  the  aggregate  number  of  patients  increases. 

"  Not  only  the  wants  of  the  hospital,  but  humanity^and  phi- 
lanthropy demand  that  an  asylum  for  the  children  should  be  pro- 
vided elsewhere  than  within  the  walls  of  the  Almshouse. 

"  It  admits  of  a  question,  as  to  each  one  of  the  grown  persons, 
whether  the  misfortunes  which   have  brought  them  to  this  place 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  201 

liave  been  altogether  the  result  of  the  agenc}^  of  other  people  ;  but 
as  to  the  helpless  orphans,  for  they  are  all  orphans  or  worse  off, 
who  are  thrown  upon  the  city  for  support,  education  and  protec- 
tion, they  are  innocent  of  any  agency  in  their  own  unhappy  lot. 

"  Not  only  our  duty  to  God,  but  a  wise  economy  demands  that 
they  be  brought  up  away  from  the  pernicious  influences  which 
must  operate  on  them,  and  will  reach  them  in  spite  of  all  precau- 
tions, within  this  building.  They  may  be  educated  to  become  use- 
ful members  of  society,  or  they  may  be  trained  to  prey  upon  the 
community  which  has  neglected  them. 

"  Why  not,  if  possible,  save  the  future  from  the  opprobrium 
of  ever  having  been  the  inmate  of  an  almshouse?  This  object 
especially  commends  itself  to  the  heart  of  every  benevolent  citizen. 

"  The  women's  side  of  both  the  lunatic  asylum  and  the  hospi- 
tal are  heated  by  steam  and  are  well  ventilated.  The  air  is  admit- 
ted into  the  chambers  in  the  cellars,  where  it  is  heated  by  coils  of 
steam  pipes,  and  is  delivered  into  each  ward  near  the  ceiling  ;  while 
the  vitiated  air  is  drawn  from  the  rooms  through  openings  near  the 
iloor,  and  is  carried  off  by  flues,  which  conduct  to  a  shaft  rising 
many  feet  above  the  roof  of  the  building. 

"  By  this  means  the  wards  are  at  the  same  time  warmed  and 
thoroughly  ventilated. 

^'A  similar  arrangement  is  required  on  the  men's  side  of  both 
buildings,  for  sanitary  purposes  as  well  as  to  avoid  the  danger  of  set- 
ting them  on  fire,  particularly  on  the  lunatic  side,  where  the  men  con- 
gregate around  the  stoves,  and  annually  destroy  large  quantities  of 
clothing  by  scorching  it,  and  from  the  filthy  habits  of  many  of  them, 
often  make  the  atmosphere  redolent  with  bad  odors.  It  is  a  matter  of 
astonishment  that  the  house  has  not  long  since  been  burnt  down. 

''A  conflagration  in  a  place  where  there  are  so  many  helpless 
lunatics  or  disabled  sick  would  be  terrible,  beyond  the  power  of 
language  to  describe. 

"  None  but  those  who  occupy  the  house  or  pass  through  it 
after  nightfall,  can  appreciate  the  difficulties,  annoyances  and  vexa- 
tions which  arise  from  the  use  of  oil  in  small  hand-lamps.  The 
building  is  the  embodiment  of  gloom.    The  patients,  in  their  desire 


202  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

to  increase  the  quantity  of  light,  constantly,  although  every  effort 
is  made  to  prevent  it,  have  the  lamps  smoking.  The  smoke  irri- 
tates the  lungs  of  the  consumptives  and  others  afflicted  with  dis- 
eases of  the  air-passages,  and  they  are  wearied  out  with  coughing 
until,  exhausted,  they  fall  aslecD ;  it  also  soils  the  walls  and 
the  clothing. 

''The  introduction  of  gas  would  aid  the  assistants  in  the 
administration  of  medicines  and  in  performing  their  offices  for  the 
sick,  and  would  prevent  much  rascality,  pilfering  and  eloping. 
Gas  is  so  much  cheaper  than  oil  that  within  three  years  the  cost  of 
its  introduction  would  be  made  up  by  its  use  and  ever  after  be  a 
saving  to  the  cit3^ 

"A  laundry  is  very  much  needed ;  the  expense  of  feeding  and 
clothing  the  large  number  of  washerwomen  necessary  to  wash  the 
clothing  of  from  two  to  three  thousand  persons,  together  with  the 
bedding  of  so  large  a  hospital,  would  more  than  pay  for  such  an 
establishment.  The  washing  would  be  done  better,  quicker  and 
more  economically,  because  the  clothing  w^ould  last  longer  and 
there  would  be  less  of  it  stolen  and  lost. 

"  There  is  not  a  water  closet  in  the  hospital ;  the  want  of 
such  an  essential  arrangement  is  productive  of  great  annoyance, 
inconvenience  and  injury,  particularly  in  wards  having  no  ventila- 
tion, and  adds  greatly  to  the  labors  of  the  house. 

"  Convalescent  patients  are  compelled  to  go  from  the  highest 
and  most  distant  wards  and  cross  a  yard  at  all  seasons,  and  through 
the  rain  and  snow  to  reach  the  offices.  On  the  men's  side  there  is 
but  one  bath  tub,  which  is  altogether  insufficient  for  the  uses  of 
the  sick.  Bathing  should  be  one-half  the  curative  agency  in  the 
treament  of  many  diseases. 

"  On  the  women's  side  of  the  Lunatic  Asylum  there  has  been 
put  up  and  nearly  completed  a  series  of  water  closets,  baths  and  sinks 
as  good  as,  if  not  superior  to  any  other  in  the  country.  A  similar  ar- 
rangement should  be  constructed  in  several  other  parts  of  the  house." 

The  doctor  certainly  painted  a  horrible  picture,  and  it  is  to  be 
hoped  that  there  were  no  other  wants  that  he  overlooked  or  forgot  to 
mention.  Things  were  very  different  then  from  what  they  are  now. 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

MEMBERS   OF  BOARD   CHARGED  WITH   vSELLIXG  DEAD   BODIES. 

THE  Board  of  Guardians  sent  the  following  communication 
to  the  Select  and  Common  Councils  on  September  ist,  1856: 
"  The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  feel  constrained 
to  again  make  application  for  an  adequate  appropriation  for 
the  remainder  of  the  present  year,  for  the  purpose  of  out-door  relief 
to  the  poor  of  the  consolidated  City  of  Philadelphia. 

"  In  doing  so,  we  deem  it  proper  to  give  such  explanation  of 
the  operation,  character  and  necessity  of  this  kind  of  relief,  as  ma}^ 
serve  to  correct  erroneous  impressions  in  regard  to  it,  and  will  also 
relieve  those  who  immediately  preceded  us  from  the  charge  of  a 
lavish  and  improvident  expenditure  of  the  amount  appropriated  to 
the  out-door  account. 

"  Before  we  proceed  further,  it  may  be  proper  to  say  (as  you 
may  see  by  answers  we  have  given  to  certain  interrogatories  ad- 
dressed to  us  lately)  that  to  the  out-door  account  is  charged  the 
salaries  of  Secretary,  Out-door  Agent,  Visitors,  Out-door  Physicians 
and  Apothecaries,  rents  of  offices  and  expense  generally  outside  of 
the  Almshouse,  in  addition  to  the  proper  relief  given  to  the  poor. 

"  To  show  that  the  sum  appropriated  for  the  present  year 
for  this  item  has  not  fallen  short  through  extravagance  in  its  ex- 
penditure, but  because  of  the  refusal  of  the  last  Councils  to  furnish 
an  adequate  sum  for  the  purpose,  we  need  only  refer  to  the  amount 
heretofore  expended  for  the  same  purpose. 

"  By  the  published  statements,  which  are  accessible  at  any 
time,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  account  for  out-door  relief  for  the  year 
ending  May  20,  1854,  the  year  preceding  the  consolidation  of  the 
city,  reached  the  amount  of  $67,442  ;  of  this  sum  $33,986  was  ex- 
pended for  fuel,  and  over  $20,000  in  groceries  and  money  to  the 
poor. 

"  The  winter  of  1854-1855  having  been  one  of  unusual  dis- 
tress among  the  poor,  there  was  an  increased  demand  for  out-door 


204  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

aid,  and  we  accordingly  find  that  the  amount  expended  in  tlie  year 
1855  reached  the  sum  of  $102,998,  of  which  $52,580  were  for  fuel, 
$27,395  i^  groceries  and  $4,640  in  money.  It  will  thus  be  seen 
that  over  $84,000  were  expended  during  the  year  1855,  outside  of 
the  Almshouse,  in  proper  relief  for  the  distresses  of  the  poor. 

"  As  required  by  the  act  of  consolidation,  an  estimate  of  the 
amount  required  for  the  expenses  of  the  Almshouse  for  the  current 
year  was  furnished  to  the  late  Councils,  divided  into  different  heads, 
under  which  our  statements  are  detailed.  For  the  out-door  account 
the  sum  asked  for  was  $83,950,  $19,000  less  than  was  expended 
in  1855.  Much  effort  having  been  made  during  the  last  winter 
to  reduce  the  out-door  account  expenditure ;  it  had  been  so  suc- 
cessful that  a  reduction  of  nearly  20  per  cent,  was  thus  proposed 
in  this  item.  But  this  was  considered  as  great  a  reduction  as  it 
could  bear,  and  it  was  not  supposed  that  Councils  would  for  a  mo- 
ment think  of  still  further  reducing  this  sum. 

"  But  in  fixing  the  appropriation  they,  in  their  eleventh-hour 
zeal  for  economy,  and  with  a  view  of  keeping  down  the  rate  of  tax- 
ation, saw  fit  to  reduce  the  amount  for  this  item — although  the 
Finance  Committee  reported  in  favor  of  $73,950 — to  the  sum  of 
$53,950;  that  is,  thirty  thousand  dollars  below  the  sum  deemed 
requisite  by  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and  but  little  more  than  half 
the  amount  expended  the  preceding  3^ear  for  the  same  purpose. 

"  By  referring  to  our  statements  it  will  also  be  observed  that 
the  cost  of  fuel  constitutes  nearly  one-half  of  the  out-door  expenses, 
and  it  is  to  be  remembered  that  this  expenditure  is  confined  to  the 
winter  months.  Hence  it  was,  that,  in  accordance  with  the  usual 
custom,  contracts  were  made  before  the  commencement  of  winter 
for  the  supply  of  coal  and  wood,  for  the  greater  portion  of  it  was 
distributed  to  the  poor  last  winter  before  Councils  fixed  the  bill  of 
appropriations  for  the  Almshouse  for  the  present  year. 

"  And  although  there  was  a  large  reduction  in  the  amount  of 
fuel  distributed  the  last,  in  comparison  with  the  previous  winter, 
this  item  was  enough  to  consume  some  three-fifths  of  the  whole 
amount  appropriated  to  the  out-door  account,  and  was  required  to 
be  paid  immediately  afthe  close  of  winter. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  205 

"  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  when,  in  addition  to  this  sum  for 
fuel,  we  deduct  the  other  charges  to  this  account  for  salaries,  rents, 
bonded  and  support  cases,  etc.,  etc.,  there  remained  but  little  to 
relieve  the  distresses  of  thousands  who  have  been  or  are  to  be  aided 
in  being  kept  out  of  the  Almshouse  by  a  little  seasonable  aid  in 
groceries,  and,  to  a  small  extent,  in  money. 

"  Upon  the  propriety  and  necessity  of  out-door  relief  in  certain 
cases,  but  a  word,  we  think,  is  necessar3^  Is  it  not  better  to  give 
25,  Z7  or  50  cents  a  w^eek  to  a  poor  person  in  distress,  for  a  short 
or  a  long  time,  than  to  send  them  to  the  Almshouse  to  be  supported 
at  an  average  cost  of  $1.50  per  week  ?  And  second,  is  it  not  more 
consistent  with  the  requirements  of  humanity  to  render  this  little 
aid  to  the  unfortunates,  who  are  striving  still  to  help  themselves, 
and  can  yet  claim  their  little  home,  than,  by  refusing,  to  consign 
them  at  once  to  the  wards  of  a  house,  in  w^hich,  however  diverse 
may  hav^e  been  their  former  condition,  all  must  be  placed  on  one 
common  level. 

"  The  assistance  of  persons  in  distress,  outside  of  the  Alms- 
house, is  a  custom  of  long  standing.  It  had  its  origin,  doubtless, 
in  the  benevolent  consciousness  that  there  are  poor  outside,  as  de- 
serving as  those  inside  of  the  Almshouse,  and  that  it  would  be 
doing  a  wrong  to  such,  to  force  them  into  the  house,  if  a  small 
amount  of  assistance  would  prevent  it.  Laws,  too,  regulating  this 
form  of  relief,  were  enacted  long  before  our  days.  Their  force,  we 
presume,  is  in  no  respect  lessened  by  the  Act  of  Consolidation  ; 
and  their  propriety,  w^e  consider,  as  enjoined  alike  by  the  dictates 
of  humanit}^  and  the  principles  of  sound  economy. 

"  But  it  is  to  your  bodies  we  must  now  look  for  the  means 
requisite  for  the  performance  of  our  duties  in  this  matter.  With 
those  in  whom  resides  the  power  will  rest  the  responsibility  of  a 
failure  to  provide  the  means  for  the  necessary  expenditure.  If 
your  predecessors  have,  as  we  believe,  inordinately  and  capriciously 
cut  down  the  amount  to  be  expended  for  out-door  relief,  we  do  not 
believe  that  it  will  either  meet  the  approbation  of  3^our  own  judg- 
ments, or  the  approval  of  our  citizens,  to  perpetuate  this  wrong. 

"  It  has  been  and  is  our  constant  aim  to  keep  down  the  expendi- 


206  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

tures  of  the  department  under  our  control,  and  make  it  as  little  as 
possible  a  burden  to  our  heavily-taxed  community,  and  we  think 
that  an  examination  and  comparison  of  its  expenditures  will  com- 
pare favorably  with  any  other  similar  institution. 

"  In  respect  to  the  character  of  those  receiving  outside  assist- 
ance— if  many  become  its  recipients  because  of  imprudence  or  im- 
providence, still  when  they  become  sick  or  afflicted,  with  no  friends 
to  support  them,  we  think  it  better  to  give  them  a  little  outside 
aid,  and  discourage  their  entrance  into  the  Almshouse  as  long  as 
possible  as  a  matter  of  economy,  as  well  as  with  a  view  to  cherisli 
that  remnant  of  pride  against  becoming  a  public  charge  in  a  public 
institution  ;  for  when  once  this  habit  is  acquired,  it  is  difficult  to 
eradicate. 

"  But  there  is  also  a  large  class — those  who  have  enjoyed 
brighter  and  better  days,  but  whom  misfortune  has  visited  with  a 
heavy  hand  in  their  old  age — to  whom  the  thought  of  the  Alms- 
house is  more  terrible  than  death.  This  is  the  class  by  whom  the 
little  pittance  that  we  give  is  most  thankfully  received,  and  serves, 
when  joined  perchance  with  a  little  gained  by  some  light  labor  or 
with  the  assistance  of  some  early  friend,  to  eke  out  a  scanty 
existence. 

"  Now,  if  the  door  of  relief  is  to  be  shut  for  the  remainder  of 
the  year  upon  those  who  have  been  supported  in  the  past  by  us,  it 
will  easily  be  seen  that,  while  it  will  be  the  cause  of  vast  suffering, 
it  will  also  greatly  increase  the  expenses  of  the  house.  While 
many  will  only  enter  the  Almshouse  at  the  last  extremity,  a  large 
proportion  of  those  whom  we  have  aided  outside,  probably  one-half, 
often  with  children  or  decrepit  friends  depending  upon  them,  will 
be  forced  into  the  Almshouse,  and  instead  of  twenty  or  twent3'-five 
dollars  per  annum,  they  will  cost  the  city  three  or  four  times  as 
much." 

This  document  was  signed  by  Oliver  Evans,  President. 

There  appears  to  have  been  rumors  of  all  kinds  in  circulation 
about  the  action  of  some  of  the  members  of  the  Board  or  officers  of 
the- house,  and  the  newspapers  published  some  of  this  town  talk. 
The  Guardians  were  much  annoyed  and  occasionally  felt  compelled 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  207 

to  take  some  notice  of  these  reports.  The  records  show  that  Mr. 
Potts  offered  the  following  preambles  and  resolution  at  a  meeting  of 
the  Board  held  in  the  latter  part  of  the  year : 

"  Whereas,  An  article  appeared  in  the  Daily  News  on  Tues- 
day last,  charging  upon   a   member  of  this  Board  the  infamy  of 
prostituting  his   office  to  his  own   personal  profit  in  making  mer 
chandize  of  the  bodies  of  deceased  paupers  ;  and 

"  Whereas,  The  odium  of  this  mercenary  and  sacreligious 
imputation  rests  equally  upon  us  all,  inasmuch  as  the  editorial 
failed  to  publish  the  name  of  the  offending  party ;  therefore 

''Resolved^  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  call  upon 
the  editor  of  that  paper,  obtain  his  authority  for  the  statement, 
ascertain  the  name  of  the  guilty  member,  investigate  the  facts  of 
the  case  and  report  to  the  Board  at  the  next  stated  meeting." 

The  preambles  and  resolutions  were  adopted,  and  Messrs. 
Potts,  Garvin  and  Dunlap  were  appointed  as  the  committee. 

The  chairman  and  a  member  of  the  committee  called  upon  the 
editors  of  the  paper,  and,  after  stating  their  business,  requested  the 
name  of  the  member  implicated.  He  stated  several  reasons  for 
refusing  to  give  the  name,  but  said  that  he  would  give  such  infor- 
mation as,  if  properly  investigated,  would  prove  the  truth  of  what 
he  had  asserted. 

In  pursuing  the  investigation,  the  chairman  procured  a  copy 
of  the  deaths  from  the  officers  of  the  House  and  the  registry  of 
burials  from  the  graveyard,  for  the  use  of  the  committee.  On  such 
a  reported  copy  he  presented  a  partial  report,  in  which  he  stated 
that  there  is  a  discrepancy  of  twenty-one  bodies  between  the  deaths 
and  the  number  of  burials,  which  deficiency  was  admitted  at  the 
time  by  a  member  of  the  committee,  but  which  admission  was 
based  on  the  presumption  that  he  was  acting  with  high-minded, 
honorable  men,  and  that  information  received  from  them  was 
reliable. 

The  majority  of  the  committee  reported :  "  These  gentlemen 
went  on  to  show  that  no  account  was  kept  at  the  graveyard  of  the 
number  of  burials,  and  the  only  records  were  the  small  pieces  of 
paper  tacked  on  the  heads  of  the  coffins,  on  which  the  names,  etc.. 


208  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

were  written,  and  are  liable  to  be  removed  from  various  causes 
before  the  coffins  reach,  the  graveyard,  and  your  committee  has 
been  informed  that  such  notices  have  been  found  and  frequently 
picked  up  on  the  grounds  of  the  institution." 

That  was  the  wa}^  the  majority  accounted  for  the  discrepancy ; 
"  the  papers  may  have  been  lost  from  the  coffins,  and  then  there 
would  be  nothing  to  show  that  the  bodies  had  been  buried."  Mr. 
Potts  was  censured  for  his  conduct  in  pursuing  the  investigation, 
and  the  report  concluded  by  recommending  that  the  House  Agent 
and  the  Superintendent  of  the  graveyard  be  furnished  with  suit- 
able books  to  keep  records  of  deaths  and  burials. 

Mr.  Potts,  the  chairman,  presented  a  minority  report,  but  the 
majority  of  the  Board  would  not  allow  it  to  be  read  or  to  be  entered 
on  the  minutes. 

The  newspapers  denounced  the  majority  of  the  Board  for  their 
action  in  stifling  the  investigation.  The  name  of  Dr.  Mosely,  a 
member  of  the  Board,  was  freely  mentioned  as  being  the  principal 
one  connected  with  the  sale  of  bodies,  and  it  was  charged  that  the 
majority  made  themselves  accomplices. 

It  is  not  surprising  that  they  were  known  as  the  ".Board  of 
Buzzards." 

It  is  very  evident  that  Councils  had  but  little  confidence  in  the 
Board  as  a  body ;  while  there  were  some  reputable  gentlemen  con- 
nected with  it,  the  majority  did  not  command  much  respect  in  the 
community.  Their  communications  to  Councils  did  not  seem  to 
have  much  weight,  and  but  little  attention  was  paid  to  them. 
Reductions  in  the  amounts  asked  for  were  made  by  wholesale. 
The  minutes  of  the  Board  record  another  appeal,  which  was  sent 
on  November  24,  1856,  in  which  occurs  the  following  choice  lan- 
guage: "The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Department  of  the  Poor 
of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  having  submitted  their  annual  esti- 
mate for  the  year  1857,  and  having  learned  from  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  Councils  that  the  items  are  too  high,  we  candidly  and  sin- 
cerely appeal  to  you  as  men,  as  representatives  of  this  great 
metropolis,  to  weigh  well  the  interests  of  this  department.  Before 
your  biased  minds  take  charge  of  your  better  judgment,  we  most 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  209 

cordially  and  sincerely  solicit  your  honorable  body  to  pa}^  us  a 
flying  visit,  examine  the  institution  in  all  its  branches  and  judge 
for  yourselves  of  the  aged,  the  blind  and  infirm  who  are  withering 
out  their  existence  upon  the  charity  of  our  generous  citizens  in 
this  enlightened  and  Christian  community.  Let  us  once  more 
plead  to  you  again  to  look  back  for  half  a  century  and  examine 
any  one  institution  in  this  commonwealth,  and  then  say  what  takes 
better  care  of  those  who  are  poor  and  needy  than  Philadelphia. 

"  Our  department  can  boast,  and  years  of  toil  can  vouch  for  it, 
that  it  is  one  of  the  best  governed  institutions  in  America  for  clean- 
liness, comfort  and  sustenance ;  always  making  it  an  ornament  to 
this  great  city,  and  which  makes  the  hearts  of  the  aged  and  father- 
less rejoice,  praising  the  Maker  of  the  Great  Universe  that  it  is  far 
better  to  be  poor  and  needy  than  to  serve  out  a  life  of  career  in  your 
prisons.  Christian  hearts  and  hands  are  always  open  and  more 
ready  to  give  than  to  receive.  How  many  poor  are  there  in  this 
vast  metropolis  whose  pride  buoys  them  up,  and  they  go  begging 
from  door  to  door  to  keep  them  from  being  compelled  to  enter  the 
Almshouse  as  public  paupers  ?  " 

Here  followed  an  argument  for  outdoor  relief,  similar  to  previ- 
ous ones  sent,  after  which  the  paper  reads  :  "  Examine  well  and  see 
that  the  poor  tax  laid  for  the  year  1856  is  but  13  cents  on  the  hun- 
dred dollars,  while  the  other  departments  are  of  still  greater  char- 
acter and  for  what  benefit  ?  Years  of  experience  have  attested  the 
wise  legislation  of  our  City  fathers,  and  has  proved  the  sagacity 
of  their  conduct,  by  being  just  to  their  constituents.  To  railroad 
companies,  of  private  interest  to  these  representatives,  the  public 
justly  attribute  the  cause  of  our  bankruptcy.  By  robbing  the 
poor  and  needy,  who  are  dependent  on  the  cold  charity  of  our  citi- 
zens. How  many  millions  of  dollars  have  been  squandered  away 
by  these  knavish  transactions  and  unjust  intrigues  of  corporate 
powers  ?  We  again  ask  you  to  remember  the  poor.  The  cold  and 
cheerless  winter  is  coming  on  us  again ;  many,  very  many  of  the 
wretched  and  miserable  creatures  who  have  no  homes,  no  friends  to 
cherish  them  in  their  feebleness  and  old  age,  devoid  of  sound  intel- 
lect, lame  and  blind,  go  dragging  out  their  pitiful  existence  over 
14 


210  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

our  thorougHfares,  begging  from  door  to  door,  and  die  upon  our 
streets  or  in  some  miserable  hovel,  or  are  cast  into  the  Almshouse, 
where  pride  withers  and  the  body  wastes  away  in  dark  oblivion. 

"  Our  estimate,  as  presented  to  your  honorable  bodies,  has 
been  carefully  examined  by  the  Committee  of  Accounts,  and  we 
find,  by  the  items  and  costs  of  this  year  (1856),  thus  far  is  as  low 
as  can  be  made.  The  rapid  increase  of  persons  being  admitted 
into  the  House,  now  168  more  than  the  same  time  last  year,  and 
averaging  at  this  rate,  b}^  the  ist  of  February,  1857,  there  can  be 
no  doubt  there  will  be  upwards  of  2500  persons  within  the  walls 
of  Blockley  Almshouse,  at  a  cost  of  $1.50  per  week,  and  all  this 
increase  has  been  brought  on  b}-  cutting  off  this  out-door  relief 
from  those  who  are  still  able  and  willing  to  support  themselves  in 
some  light  work.  Does  not  reason  and  sound  sense  admit,  that 
if  $50,000  will  relieve  those  asking  alms  on  the  outside  of  the 
institution  and  keep  them  from  going  to  the  Almshouse,  where 
should  they  be  consigned  through  unwise  legislation,  it  will  cost 
the  city  over  $150,000  at  $1-50  per  week  ;  and,  while  there,  should 
sickness  overtake  them,  they  will  be  compelled  to  go  under  medical 
treatment,  averaging  at  least  30  to  50  cents  per  week  for  medicines, 
nurses,  etc.  Take  all  these  things  into  consideration  before  you 
decide.  You  will  perhaps  say  to  yourselves  our  taxes  are  too  high, 
they  must  be  reduced.  Yes,  gentlemen,  let  us  tell  you  your  taxes 
were  less  when  the  old  corporations  were  in  existence  than  at  pre- 
sent with  the  consolidated  powers.  Look  at  them  and  contrast  the 
difference,  where  are  they  squandered  away  ?  Look  at  your  High- 
way Department,  your  Police  system  and  Railroad  Knavery,  and 
then  do*  not  say  it  is  in  the  Poor  Department.  These  are  weighty 
measures,  which  we  trust  your  honorable  bodies  will  take  into  due 
consideration.  Leave  not  the  credit  of  this  institution  be  swept 
away  and  suffer,  while  we  are  compelled  to  look  to  your  august 
bodies  to  bear  out  its  reputation. 

''  One  word  before  you  decide ;  let  us  again  as  a  body,  a  Bo?rd 
of  Guardians,  solicit  your  Committee  on  Poor,  [not  your  poor  com- 
mittee)  to  visit  this  institution  in  general  and  duly  examine  it  in 
all  its  various  branches  ;  view^  it  carefully ;  let  not  prejudices  sway 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  211 

your  feelings  toward  the  unfortunate,  for  it  is  not  those  on  the  out 
side  who  know  the  wants  of  those  within  the  walls  of  the  Alms- 
house better  than  they  who  are  daily  connected  with  it,  and  if  we 
wisely  err  let  us  assure  you  it  is  not  of  the  heart  bat  of  the  head, 
and  we  are  always  ready  and  willing  to  serve  our  constituents 
towards  the  unfortunates,  who  are  generously  and  liberally  sup- 
ported by  the  citizens  of  Philadelphia." 

This  appeal  was  signed  by  Oliver  Evans,  President. 

There  is  a  marked  difference  in  the  reports  of  the  conditions 
in  the  institution  as  presented  by  the  Guardians  and  as  represented 
by  Dr.  Campbell.  They  certainly  did  not  look  at  things  through 
the  same  glasses.  The  doctor  reported  that  everything  was  wrong 
and  in  a  horrible  condition  ;  the  Board,  on  the  contrary,  say,  "  it  is 
one  of  the  best  governed  institutions  in  America,  for  cleanliness, 
comfort  and  sustenance ;  always  making  it  an  ornament  to  this 
great  citj^,  which  makes  the  hearts  of  the  aged  and  fatherless 
rejoice,  praising  the  Maker  of  the  Great  Universe,  etc." 

After  making  this  assertion  they  insist  upon  the  Council- 
men  "  visiting  the  institution  and  inspecting  it  in  all  its  various 
branches."  This  did  not  look  as  though  they  feared  an  examina- 
tion of  the  conditions. 

It  would  puzzle  one  to  form  an  opinion  under  these  circum- 
stances ;  probably  both  sides  exaggerated,  and  if  it  were  possible 
to  arrive  at  a  "  happy  medium,"  one  might  get  near  to  the  truth. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

DR.  JAMES  McCLINTOCK    ELECTED— VISITING  PHYSICIANS    RESIGN— 

RESIDENT  PHYSICIANS  LEAVE— VISITS  OF  STUDENTS 

STOPPED— GAS   INTRODUCED. 

IN  June,  1857,  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell,  Chief  Resident  Physician, 
resigned  his  position,  and  Dr.  James  McClintock  was  elected 
to  fill  the  vacancy.  This  selection  caused  considerable  excite- 
ment in  the  medical  fraternity.  The  resignations  of  the 
members  of  the  Visiting  Staff  were  tendered  to  the  Board  of  Guard- 
ians, and  were  simply  "laid  on  the  table"  by  that  body.  Six  of 
the  Resident  Physicians  resigned  and  left  the  institution ;  these 
vacancies  were  filled  by  the  election  of  others  in  their  places.  A 
complete  change  in  the  management  of  the  medical  department 
took  place,  and  the  visits  of  students  were  stopped. 

The  principal  objection  to  Dr.  McClintock  was  that  he  manu- 
factured some  medical  remedies,  the  contents  of  which  he  would 
not  divulge.  Consequently  the  medical  gentlemen  denounced  him 
as  a  "  quack  doctor,"  although  his  knowledge  and  abilities  as  a 
physician  were  unquestionable. 

A  panic  occurred  in  the  winter  of  185  7-1 858,  which  threw  a 
large  number  of  working  people  out  of  employment  and  caused 
great  suffering.  Relief  Committees  were  formed  in  every  ward 
and  they  distributed  the  necessaries  of  life  to  many  of  the  sufferers. 
The  census  of  the  House  for  January,  1858  shows  a  popula- 
tion of. more  than  3000  inmates  and  the  Board  was  compelled  to 
refuse  admission  to  a  great  many  applicants.  The  out-door  relief 
distributed  by  the  Guardians  in  one  month  comprised  $2,504.84 
worth  of  groceries,  1,571  tons  of  coal  and  351  cords  of  wood.  The 
number  of  persons  assisted  in  this  manner  was  3,556. 

A  contract  was  made  with  Samuel  Sweeton  &  Brother,  in 
March,  1858,  to  introduce  gas  pipes,  etc.,  into  the  institution,  for 
the  sum  of  $5,992.35.  The  work  appears  to  have  been  done  satis- 
factorily, as  the  Board  passed  a  resolution  to  that  effect,  and  recom- 
mended the  contractors  as  first-class  mechanics. 
212 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  213 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  held  on  March  15th,  1858,  an 
affidavit  was  read,  which  was  signed  and  sworn  to  by  seven  women 
and  two  men,  in  which  they  testified  that  "  they  had  severally 
called  on  James  Mackin,  Visitor  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  at 
his  office,  No.  1347  North  Front  street,  and  solicited  relief,  of  which 
they  are  severally  in  want,  and  received  for  answer,  '  there  is  noth- 
ing here  for  the  Dutch.'  " 

The  matter  was  referred  to  a  special  committee  for  investiga- 
tion, but  there  is  nothing  to  show  that  any  action  was  taken  to 
punish  the  official. 

The  Board  elected  to  serve  for  1858-1859,  consisted  of  Messrs. 
A.  J.  Preall,  J.  L.  Hamlin,  James  Armstrong,  Hugh  Gamble,  Jacob 
C.  Freno,  C  C.  Overbeck,  Wm.  Budd,  K.  E.  Smith,  J.  F.  McClel- 
land, R.  W.  Kensil,  James  D.  Brown,  A.  H.  Dunlap,  Marshall 
Henzey,  George  Huhn,  Joshua  Kames,  J.  S.  Riehl,  Edward  Sherry, 
John  A.  Fisher,  George  P.  Oliver,  J.  J.  Allison,  William  Dawson, 
Oliver  Browuell  and  J.  J.  Hoopes. 

Dr.  George  Huhn  was  elected  President,  John  A.  Fisher,  Treas- 
urer ;  Marshall  Henzey,  a  member  of  the  Board,  Steward  of  the 
Almshouse,  and  Dr.  R.  K.  Smith  was  reinstated  in  his  former  posi- 
tion of  Chief  Resident  Physician. 

The  following  letter  was  read  after  the  election  had  taken  place  : 

"To  THE  Board  of  Guardl^ns  of  the  Poor: 

"  Gentlemen — On  the  8th  of  June,  1857,  the  Chief  Resident 
Physician  resigned  his  place  here,  and  I  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy,  and  commenced  my  duties  on  the  20th  of  the  same  month. 
In  July  I  was  re-elected. 

''  In  seeking  the  position  I  looked  upon  it  as  a  professional 
station,  and  not  a  political  place.  I  requested  and  received  votes 
from  gentlemen  of  both  political  parties  then  on  the  Board. 

"I  have  faithfully  discharged  the  duties  of  the  place,  and  by 
economical  management  of  the  department  under  my  care,  in  which 
I  was  greatly  assisted  by  Charles  Murphy,  Esq.,  Steward,  I  have 
saved  for  the  public  a  sum  much  greater  than  my  salary. 

"  If  you,  gentlemen,  view  the  place  a  professional  station,  I 
would  be  pleased  if  you  will   retain   me,  and  I  shall  discharge  the 


214  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

duties  faithfully,  as  I  have  heretofore  done ;  but  if  you  have  deter- 
termined  to  make  it  a  political  place,  and  a  man  whose  qualifica- 
tions no  one  doubts  or  denies,  is  to  be  proscribed  because  he  is  a 
Democrat,  I  am  perfectly  willing  to  be  displaced. 

"  I  am,  gentlemen,  very  respectfully  yours,  &c. 

"James  McClintock, 
"  Chief  Resident  Physician,^'' 

On  the  19th  of  July,  1858,  at  the  instigation  of  Dr.  Smith, 
Mr.  Preall  offered  a  resolution  which  stated  "  that  as  all  objections 
have  been  removed  which  prevented  the  medical  gentlemen  from  ac- 
cepting office  of  this  kind  in  the  institution,  and  the  medical  pro- 
fession of  Philadelphia  are  desirous  of  re-establishing  the  relations 
which  formerly  existed  between  the  profession  at  large  and  Blockley 
Hospital,"  and  provided  for  the  election  of  a  consulting  staff.  This 
brought  on  a  stirring  debate.  The  obstacles  or  "  objections  that 
had  been  removed,"  were  recognized  as  referring  to  Dr.  McClintock, 
and  some  of  the  members  of  the  Board  intimated  that  Dr.  Smith 
required  assistance  in  the  performance  of  his  duties."  The  resolu- 
tion was  finally  "  laid  on  the  table.'' 

Dr.  Smith  appeared  to  be  mixed  up  in  a  number  of  the  scandals 
that  was  put  in  circulation.  On  the  30th  of  August,  1858,  Dr. 
Oliver  offered  the  following  : 

"  Whereas,  Rumors  are  being  circulated  that  one  of  the  offi- 
cers of  the  Medical  Department  of  the  Almshouse  has  been  re- 
cently engaged  in  the  nefarious  business  of  selling  a  number  of 
the  bodies  of  the  inmates  who  have  died  in  the  institution,  and  as  this 
course  (if  tolerated)  is  calculated  to  destroy  that  confidence  which 
the  community  have  reposed  in  the  members  of  this  Board,  and 
annihilate  the  prospect  indulged  in  by  them  of  that  anticipated 
reform  in  this  particular,  the  hope  of  which  led  to  the  success  of 
the  present  and  the  demolition  of  the  power  of  the  former  Board. 

''  And  as  from  this  traffic  (even  if  warrantable)  no  revenue  ac- 
crues to  the  institution,  the  proceeds  being  entirely  appropriated  to 
the  use  of  those  engaged  in  this  outrageous  transaction,  it  there- 
fore behooves  the  members  of  this  Body  that  they  should  show  their 


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History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  215 

constituents  that  they  have  no  participation  in,  or  give  countenance 
in  any  wa}^,  to  such  illegal  proceedings ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  ascer- 
tain the  truth  or  falsity  of  these  rumors,  and  report  to  the  Board 
at  its  next  meeting." 

Messrs.  Oliver,  Kensil  and  Kames  were  appointed.  They 
reported  that  they  had  made  a  careful  examination  and  found  that 
there  was  no  foundation  for  such  report.  They  said :  ''  That  no 
medical  officer  of  the  House  has  been  engaged  in  any  such  trans- 
action or  in  anything  calculated  to  lead  to  the  suspicion  of  such 
transaction. 

"  Dr.  Smith,  the  Chief  Medical  Officer,  admitted  that  he  had 
preserved  two  dead  bodies  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  two  rare 
specimens  of  diseases,  and  claimed  that  by  so  doing  he  was  only 
in  the  pursuit  of  a  legitimate  and  proper  privilege,  one  which  he  had 
a  perfect  right  to  exercise  for  the  advancement  of  medical  science. 

"  The  evidence  showed  that  Dr.  Kelly,  one  of  the  assistant 
physicians,  was  anxious  to  obtain  the  fractured  arms  of  a  female 
who  had  died  of  consumption.  Dr.  Smith  was  equally  anxious  to 
obtain  them  as  valuable  specimens  of  morbid  anatomy.  After  Dr. 
Smith's  trouble  in  preparing  the  body  to  prevent  decomposition, 
some  other  physician,  outside  of  the  institution,  procured  them. 
The  disappointment  of  Dr.  Kelly  was  to  a  great  extent  the  origin 
of  this  investigation,  and  the  result  of  it  proves  absolutely  nothing." 

This  was  indeed  a  wonderful  report.  It  showed  the  great  care 
that  was  taken  of  the  bodies.  It  was  certainly  too  bad  that  Dr. 
Kelly  should  be  disappointed,  especially  when  he  was  so  anxious  ; 
but  there  was  Dr.  Smith,  who  had  taken  the  trouble  to  preserve  it, 
and  then  to  think  that  "  some  other  physician  outside  of  the  insti- 
tution procured  them  !  " 

Who  was  this  other  physician,  and  hov/  did  he  procure  them  ? 
The  committee  failed  to  state  whether  this  "  other  physician  "  took 
them  out  secreted  in  his  vest  pocket,  or  how  he  did  take  them. 
Possibly  the  body  walked  out. 

It  was  outrageous  that  any  one  should  have  the  temerity  to 
insinuate  that  there  was  anything  wrong  with  such  excellent  man- 


216  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

agement,  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  Dr.  Oliver's  constituents  were 
pleased. 

Councils  managed  to  appropriate  just  enough  money  to  keep 
tlie  Board's  finances  in  a  very  straightened  condition. 

On  the  27th.  of  September,  1858,  the  Guardians  adopted  a 
series  of  resolutions  begging  for  sufficient  money  to  maintain  the 
institution,  in  which  they  stated  :  "  We  therefore  respectfully  urge 
upon  Councils  the  necessity  of  prompt  and  immediate  action  in 
supporting  this  department.  The  article  of  flour,  which  always 
commands  cash,  is  now  nearly  exhausted,  and  in  a  few  days  the 
inmates  will  be  without  bread. 

''  Now  nearly  all  of  them  are  without  sufficient  clothing  to  pro- 
tect them  from  the  approaching  cold  weather,  and  there  is  not  one 
cent  left  to  purchase  shoes  for  the  barefooted  men  and  women  who 
are  compelled  to  leave  their  wards  and  work  within  the  institution. 

"  The  Hospital  supplies  are  also  in  the  same  condition,  and 
all  of  the  medicine  for  the  sick  have  thus  far  been  purchased  upon 
the  responsibility  of  the  members  of  the  Board,  without  a  dollar  of 
appropriation  to  meet  the  bills." 

This  was  truty  a  deplorable  condition  to  be  placed  in.  Politi- 
cal feeling  was  very  strong  in  those  days,  and  seemed  to  enter  into 
the  management  of  the  departments.  It  was  even  hinted  that 
some  of  the  Guardians  intended  to  do  some  "  crooked  "  work,  but 
the  following  preamble  and  resolutions,  which  were  unanimously 
adopted  at  the  meeting  of  the  Board,  held  on  October  11,  1858, 
proved  that  the  rumor  was  untrue.  Of  course  no  one  would  go  on 
record  as  voting  against  them.     The  resolutions  said  : 

"Whereas,  We  are  now  upon  the  eve  of  an  election,  the 
importance  of  which  cannot  be  overestimated,  when  we  will  be 
called  upon  to  deposit  our  votes  to  say  who  shall  represent  us  in 
the  various  offices  to  be  balloted  for ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  The  right  of  the  elective  franchise  is  dear  and 
religiously  sacred  to  every  American  citizen,  whether  native  or 
adopted,  and  as  the  price  of  liberty  is  said  to  be  eternal  vigilance, 
and  as  the  inviolability  of  the  ballot-box  lays  at  the  foundation  of 
the  perpetuity  of  our  Republican  institutions,  we  must  view  with 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  217 

the  utmost  abhorrence,  and  punish  with  the  utmost  severity,  those 
who  would  in  any  way  seek  to  perpetrate  a  fraud  upon  the  sacred 
right  of  freemen  in  this  matter  ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  It  is  rumored  that  the  majority  members  of 
this  Board  have  been  seeking  to  perpetrate  a  gross  outrage,  not 
alone  upon  the  citizens  of  the  24th  Ward  in  particular,  but  also 
upon  the  rights  of  every  American  citizen,  by  forcing  upon  them, 
as  qualified  voters,  the  paupers  who  reside  in  the  Blockley  Alms- 
house, that  are  supported  by  the  taxpayers  of  the  city  of  Phila- 
delphia, who  have  therefore  no  moral  right  to  be  turned  out  on  the 
day  of  election  for  the  purpose  of  neutralizing  the  legal  votes  of 
an  equal  number  of  American  citizens.     Therefore, 

''Resolved,  By  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  that  we  disown  having  any  part  or  lot  in  this 
matter  whatever,  either  individually  or  collectively. 

"  Resolved^  That  any  member  of  this  Board  or  officer  connected 
with  the  House  or  Board,  who  shall  be  proven  guilty  of  aiding  or 
abetting,  in  any  manner  whatsoever,  either  preparing  for  or  assist- 
ing to  deposit,  on  the  day  of  election,  the  vote  of  any  pauper,  shall 
be  considered  guilty  of  misdemeanor  in  office,  and  shall  be  dis- 
missed forthwith." 

This  must  have  relieved  the  public  mind  and  set  at  rest  all 
wild  rumors. 

The  appeals  to  Councils  for  more  money  did  not  appear  to 
have  the  desired  effect,  and  the  members  of  the  Board  began  to  get 
impatient  and  to  assume  a  more  belligerent  attitude.  On  the  25th 
of  October,  1858,  Mr.  Kames  offered  the  following: 

"  Whereas,  This  Board  has  appealed  for  the  past  three  months 
to  the  City  Councils  for  an  appropriation  sufficient  to  meet  the 
deficiency  of  last  year's  expenditures,  for  which  this  Board  is  not 
at  all  accountable,  which  appeal  has  so  far  been  disregarded ; 
and, 

"  Whereas,  The  appropriations  for  almost  all  articles  neces- 
sary for  the  support  of  the  inmates  is  exhausted,  and  the  only 
method  left  to  carry  on  the  affairs  of  the  institution  is  for  the  mem- 
bers of  this  Board  to  make  themselves  individually  responsible  for 


218  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

such   purchases   as  are  required ;  that  we  have  done  already  to  a 
a  large  extent ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  Councils  have  neglected  to  appropriate  that 
portion  of  the  public  funds  raised  by  taxation  off  our  mutual  con- 
stituents, thus  leaving  the  Board  without  money  to  purchase  neces- 
sary supplies  for  the  support  of  the  inmates  of  this  institution, 
and  without  funds  for  the  purchase  of  raw  materials  for  the  em- 
ployment of  the  various  mechanics  now  under  the  Almshouse  roof, 
thus  involving  the  city  in  a  loss  since  the  first  of  July  last,  already 
exceeding  $10,000,  and  now  daily  increasing,  partly  in  consequence 
of  the  additional  prices  charged  for  all  articles  bought  on  credit, 
without  any  prospect  of  an  appropriation  to  pay  for  the  same. 
And  this  Board,  being  unwilling  to  be  instruments  in  the  hands  of 
Councils  for  such  mismanagement  and  waste  and  loss  of  the  public 
funds  and  credit,  over  which  we  have  no  contol ;  therefore, 

^'^ Resolved^  That  no  article  be  purchased  for  the  use  of  this 
institution  after  the  first  day  of  November  next,  unless  an  appro- 
priation be  first  made  by  Councils  sufficient  to  meet  existing  de- 
mands, and  that  a  committee  of  five  members  of  this  Board,  to 
confer  with  Councils  to  set  forth  the  necessity  of  prompt  action  on 
their  part  and  urge  an  immediate  appropriation  of  a  part  of  the 
public  money  raised  expressly  for  the  support  of  this  institution, 
be  appointed. 

"And  that,  in  case  Councils  shall  continue,  as  they  have  been 
for  the  past  three  months,  indifferent  to  the  public  interests,  and 
should  fail  to  act  as  the  emergency  demands,  that  then  the  said 
committee  be  requested  to  solicit  donations  from  public-spirited 
citizens  for  the  support  of  the  lunatics  and  children's  asylum,  and' 
that  the  adult  paupers  be  forthwith  discharged  and  recommended 
to  the  mercy  of  the  City  Councils." 

The  preambles  and  resolutions  were  adopted. 

The  action  of  the  Board  did  not  have  the  desired  effect,  and 
Councils  continued  as  they  had  been  ''  for  the  past  three  months." 
There  is  nothing  to  show  that  donations  were  asked  for  or  that  the 
adult  paupers  were  discharged  and  recommended  to  the  mercy  of 
City  Councils. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  219 

Mr,  Hoopes  gave  vent  to  his  indignation  by  the  introduction 
of  the  following  preambles  and  resolutions  at  the  meeting  held 
on  the  8th  of  November,  1858: 

"  Whereas,  This  Board,  influenced  by  a  desire  to  guard  the 
interests  of  the  city  and  to  economize  the  means  placed  at  their 
disposal  for  the  maintenance  of  the  poor  of  Philadelphia,  applied  to 
Councils  for  an  appropriation  to  enable  them  to  make  available  and 
profitable  the  surplus  labor  within  the  walls  of  the  Almshouse;  and, 

"  Whereas,  The  appropriation,  amounting  to  but  $2,400, 
to  be  used  in  purchasing  material  for  the  construction  of  a  build- 
ing and  the  purchase  of  tools  for  the  employment  of  this  labor, 
has  been  stricken  from  the  ordinance  by  the  arbitrary  and  factious 
opposition  of  a  few  members  of  Councils,  prominent  among  whom 
is  the  member  of  Select  Council  from  the  Thirteenth  Ward,  it 
behooves  the  members  of  this  Board  to  make  a  plain  statement  of 
the  motives  that  governed  them  in  their  official  relations  ;  the  ne- 
cessities that  required  such  action ;  the  impediments  which  have 
retarded  an  economical  and  proper  administration  of  their  trust, 
and  the  ignorance  and  recklessness  which  has  marked  the  opposi- 
tion arrayed  against  this  Board  and  the  true  interests  of  the  city 
by  the  individuals  who  have  controlled  it. 

"  No  Board  of  Guardians  have  ever  been  elected  who  entered 
npon  their  duties  with  a  firmer  determination  to  administer  hon- 
estly and  faithfully  their  trust  than  the  present  one. 

"  With  this  determination  they  had  scarcely  entered  and  taken 
their  seats  than  they  discovered  that  the  year's  appropriations  for 
most  of  the  important  items  of  necessity  were  exhausted ;  that 
debts  to  the  amount  of  more  than  $8,000  had  been  contracted  ;  that 
the  institution  had  been  stripped  of  supplies  in  all  its  departments 
and  left  in  so  deplorable  a  condition  as  to  require  the  means  at  that 
moment  to  maintain  its  vitality,  and  that  the  labor  unappropriated 
around  the  institution  was  an  evil  that  demanded  an  immediate 
remedy. 

''  These  were  the  motives  and  these  the  necessities  which  infiu- 
enced  this  Board  in  the  application  to  Councils  for  the  money  abso- 
lutely indispensable  for  the  welfare  of  the  institution. 


220  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"And  appealing,  as  they  believed,  to  honest,  intelligent  and 
honorable  men,  bound  by  every  pledge  of  duty  to  the  interests  of 
the  city,  they  anticipated  neither  difficulty  nor  delay  in  the  accom- 
plishment of  their  object,  nor  did  they  suppose  that  the  Council 
chamber  would  be  made  the  theatre  for  abuse  or  the  arena  for  a 
display  of  ignorance  and  the  promulgation  of  falsehood. 

"  The  course  pursued  by  this  small  faction  in  Councils  is- 
manifestly  the  offspring  of  malevolence  or  is  the  result  of  still  less 
worthy  motives. 

"  The  great  interests  of  the  city  are  lost  sight  of  and  bartered 
away  for  the  gratification  of  personal  feelings,  and  Councils  are 
entertained  with  the  antics,  vulgarities  and  hypocrisy  of  a  political 
harlequin. 

"  By  the  published  proceedings  of  the  Select  Chamber,  it  will 
be  seen  that  one  member  at  least  asserted  that  the  members  of  this. 
Board  were  dishonest ;  that  their  official  conduct  was  tainted  with 
fraud,  and  that  his  opposition  was  not  to  the  department,  but  to  the- 
Guardians  of  the  Poor. 

"This  member  was  the  Select  Councilman  from  the  i3tli 
Ward,  a  man  sent  to  legislate  for  the  interests  of  the  city,  and  not 
to  take  advantage  of  his  official  position  for  the  gratification  of  his- 
personal  malice. 

"  This  man  knowing,  or  at  least  having  been  informed,  of  the 
whole  character  of  the  legislation  necessary  for  the  welfare  of  the 
department,  knowing  that  the  ordinance  for  the  support  of  the 
House  for  six  months,  from  July  ist,  was  one  thing,  and  the  ordi- 
nance to  pay  the  debts  of  the  old  Board  was  another,  professed  that 
the  whole  thing  was  a  riddle,  and  endeavored,  from  the  beginning, 
to  stigmatize  the  Board  and  induce  the  people  to  believe  that  its 
members  are  profligate  squanderers  of  the  public  moneys. 

"  These  slanders  are  on  a  par  with  the  ignorance  thus  exposed. 
The  Board  asked  for  $2,000  to  put  up  a  building  which  by  contract 
would  cost  $10,000,  and  yet  these  gentlemen  arrest  this  important 
work  and  destroy  the  whole  object  to  be  attained  by  introducing  a 
proviso  that  the  work  shall  be  dotie  by  contract,  thereby  preventing 
the  employment  of  these  very  men  whose  labor  we  desire  to  make 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  221 

profitable.  It  is  therefore  with  a  desire  to  test  the  relative  powers 
of  the  Councils  and  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and  the 
right  of  Councils  to  retard  and  injure  the  interests  of  this  depart- 
ment that  the  following  resolutions  are  offered : 

"  Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  three  be  instructed  to  cause 
the  question  of  the  relative  powers  of  the  City  Councils  and  the 
Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  to  be  thoroughly  investigated  and 
adjudicated  by  the  Courts  of  Justice, 

"  Resolved^  That  this  Board  do  tender  the  services  of  200  able- 
bodied  men  to  the  Select  and  Common  Council  to  be  employed  as 
their  wisdom  may  direct." 

During  the  discussion  which  ensued  on  the  motion  to  adopt 
the  resolutions,  Mr.  Brown  said  that  he  disapproved  of  the  erection 
of  the  building,  and  asserted  that  he  had  used  his  influence  in 
Councils  to  defeat  the  appropriation  therefor,  and  from  other 
remarks  made  the  following  protest  from  the  Chief  Resident  Phy- 
sician was  presented  and  read  : 

"  I  protest  against  Mr.  Brown,  or  any  other  man,  connecting 
my  name  with  any  act  for  which  I  am  not  responsible,  and  this 
man  Brown  shall  not  falsely,  through  motives  of  malevolence, 
involve  me  in  any  act  with  which  I  have  no  connection." — R,  K. 
Smith. 

The  vote  on  the  passage  of  the  preambles  and  resolutions  was 
21  in  favor  to  i  in  opposition,  "  this  man  Brown"  being  the  only 
one  opposed  to  their  adoption. 

On. the  morning  of  December  22,  1858,  a  fire  occurred  in  the 
clothes  room,  which  was  located  in  the  second  story  of  the  bake 
house  ;  it  was  the  cause  of  considerable  fright,  and  for  a  time  looked 
quite  serious,  but  was  fortunately  extinguished  without  any  loss 
of  life. 

The  Board  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Henzey,  the  Stew- 
ard, for  "  his  indefatigable  exertions  and  for  the  untiring  zeal  with 
which  he  labored  to  extinguish  the  conflagration  which  at  one  time 
threatened  the  Almshouse  with  entire  destruction." 

The  fire  caused  great  inconvenience,  as  there  was  no  surplus 
of  clothing  at  the  best  of  times.     The  Steward  notified  the  Board 


222  History  of  Philadelphia  Aluishoiises  and  Hospitals. 

on  January  3,  1859,  "  that  in  consequence  of  tlie  fire  they  did  not 
have  sufficient  clothing  to  furnish  inmates  on  their  discharge  from 
the  House.  There  are  a  great  many  who  would  have  been  dis- 
charged but  for  the  want  of  clothing." 

The  religious  character  of  at  least  a  few  of  the  members  was 
shown  by  the  following  preamble,  which  preceded  a  resolution  to 
authorize  the  purchase  of  hay  : 

Whereas,  Owing  to  a  dispensation  of  Providence  the  grounds 
kept  for  haying  purposes  were  overflowed  during  the  past  harvest, 
and  consequently  almost  our  entire  crop  of  hay  was  destroyed, 
therefore,"  etc. 

Mr.  Hoopes  offered  the  following  :  "  Whereas,  The  taxpayers 
of  the  city  are  paying  to  support  at  least  1000  able-bodied  men  and 
women,  and  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  have  no  means  of  employing 
them,  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  use  their  influence 
with  members  of  the  Legislature  to  procure  the  passage  of  a  bill  to 
authorize  the  sale  of  a  portion  of  the  Blockley  Almshouse  property 
sufficient  to  raise  means  to  build  a  suitable  House  of  Correction." 


CHAPTER  XX. 

THEFT  OF  690  BARRELS  OF  FLOUR  CHARGED— CHARGES   OF  CORRUP- 
TION IN  THE  AIR. 

DR.  SMITH  is  again  brought  to  public  notice.     His  name 
had  been  associated  with  that  of  one  of  the  female  nurses, 
and  caused  considerable  gossip.     The   matter  was  dis- 
cussed informally  by  the  members  of  the  Board,  and  a 
resolution  was  offered  to  expel  or  suspend  him  until  an  investiga- 
tion could  be  made.     This  called  forth  the  following  characteristic 
letter  from  the  Doctor : 

"  Gentlevien — At  your  meeting  on  Wednesday  evening  a  reso- 
lution was  offered  to  suspend  me  from  my  duties  for  the  present, 
until  certain  charges  against  me  were  settled. 

"  If  charges  exist  I  should  like  to  know  what  they  are,  for  I 
am  ready  for  any  investigation  that  may  be  started.  I  am  respon- 
sible to  the  Board  of  Guardians  for  a  faithful  performance  of  my 
official  duties,  among  them  is  the  respectability,  so  far  as  it  rests 
upon  me,  of  the  departments  under  my  care. 

"  If  I  have  been  guilty  of  an}^  dereliction  in  any  of  those 
particulars  I  am  answerable  to  you,  and  I  claim  it  as  a  man  and  a 
public  officer  that  the  charges  be  plainly,  specifically  and  publicly 
made  under  a  responsible  name,  that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  to 
vindicate  myself  before  the  public,  where  I  have  been  so  deeply 
injured. 

"  As  a  citizen  I  can  stand  erect  before  the  world,  conscious  of 
my  own  integrity,  and  am  ready  to  ansM^er  to  any  immoral  act  that 
either  by  stealth  or  stratagem  my  enemies  have  endeavored  to  fix 
upon  me. 

"  Apart  from  my  office  there  is  a  higher  tribunal  than  the 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  to  decide  upon  my  moral  conduct,  and  a 
more  impartial  one  than  the  Sunday  papers,  but  I  shrink  from 
nothing  into  which  you  may  choose  to  look,  and  as  I  have  been 
publicly  traduced  and  calumniated  I  invite  you  to  fully  and  freely 

223 


224  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

investigate  anything  and  everything  with  which  my  name    has 
been  so  unfairly  connected. 

"  I  ask  then  that  some  one  who  complains  shall  make  his  charge 
openly  and  fairly,  and  that  you  appoint  a  committee  to  investigate. 

"  Respectfully  yours, 

"  Robert  K.  Smith.'' 

The  committee  appointed  made  a  report  on  March  28,  1859,  in 
which  it  was  stated :  "  We  have  had  repeated  meetings  and  have 
notified  all  parties  in  any  way  connected  with  the  scandalous 
rumors  to  be  present  and  make  charges  or  produce  evidence,  and 
as  no  charges  have  been  made  of  any  sort  to  implicate  the  Doctor 
in  any  improper  transaction,  and  as  all  the  evidence  adduced  was 
entirely  calculated  to  liberate  him  from  anything  wrong,  your 
committee  regard  the  whole  of  these  rumors  as  the  offspring  of 
malice." 

The  troubles  of  the  Board  were  augmented  when  Mr.  Arm- 
strong, one  of  the  members,  made  a  statement  regarding  flour 
transactions,  and  said  that  690  barrels  of  it  had  been  stolen  by 
members  of  the  Board.  As  might  be  supposed  this  bold  charge 
caused  consternation  as  well  as  indignation,  and  a  committee,  con- 
sisting of  Messrs.  Armstrong,  Allison,  Gamble,  Hoopes  and  Smith, 
was  appointed  to  investigate  and  report. 

Mr.  Armstrong  was  alone.  The  other  members  of  the  com- 
mittee made  report  on  February  2d,  1859,  and,  after  reciting  the 
mode  of  procedure  and  the  evidence,  showing  statement  of  the 
books,  etc.,  they  concluded  by  saying:  "  There  is  therefore  indubit- 
able evidence  that  neither  fraud  nor  dishonesty  has  marked  the 
conduct  of  any  man  connected  with  the  institution  in  these  flour 
transactions,  and  the  charges  are  gratuitous,  false,  slanderous,  and 
•only  manufactured  for  political  effect. 

"  Your  committee  therefore  offers  the  following  resolutions  and 
ask  for  their  adoption  : 

"  Resolved^  That  James  Armstrong  be  and  is  hereby  expelled 
from  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and  from  this  day  his 
.seat  be  declared  vacant. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


225 


"  Resolved^  That  the  Secretary  officially  informs  Councils  that 
a  vacancy  exists  in  the  Third  Ward  and  ask  them  to  elect  a  mem- 
ber to  fill  it. 

"  Resolved^  That  James  D.  Brown  deserves  the  censure  of  his 
colleagues  in  sustaining  Mr.  Armstrong  in  his  course,  and  that  he 
be  required  to  make  to  the  Board  a  public  apology  for  the  wrong  he 
has  perpetrated. 

"  Resolved^  That  the  members  of  this  Board  regard  themselves 
disgraced  by  their  official  connection  with  Mr.  Armstrong  and  every 
other  public  defamer  and  calumniator." 

When  Mr.  Preall  moved  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions,  Mr. 
Armstrong  took  the  floor,  and  after  he  had  spoken  more  than  an 
hour  the  previous  question  was  called  and  the  motion  to  adopt  the 
resolutions  was  carried  unanimously,  while  Mr.  Armstrong  was 
continuing  his  remarks. 

Mr.  Armstrong  paid  no  attention  to  the  expulsion,  but  attended 
the  next  meeting  as  though  nothing  had  happened. 

The  vote  on  the  adoption  of  the  resolutions  was  reconsidered 
and  Mr.  Armstrong  presented  a  minority  report,  in  which  he  stated  : 
"  Your  committee  agree  in  all  the  statements  of  which  you  will 
find  a  printed  copy  hereto  annexed,  with  the  exception  of  two  bills, 
one  for  150  and  the  other  for  200  barrels. 

"  The  objection  is  that  they  were  not  passed  until  the  meeting 
of  December  27th. 

"  I  admit  they  were  not  passed  until  that  meeting,  but  I  do 
contend  that  the}^  were  charged  respectively  on  the  15th  and  20th 
of  December,  1858. 

My  charge  ends  on  the  25th,  but  I  contend  that  the  flour  was 
delivered  on  and  previous  to  the  25th.  The  baker  makes  his  re- 
turns on  Saturday  evening.  This  Saturday  referred  to  was  the 
25th.  The  26th  was  Sunday,  and,  of  course,  no  flour  was  delivered 
on  that  day.     The  bills  passed  the  Board  on  the  following  day. 

"  Now,  when  was  the  flour  delivered?  Is  it  pretended  that 
there  was  no  flour  delivered  from  the  15th  to  the  26th?  " 

"  The  report  of  the  majority  of  the  committee  is  equivalent  to 
this.  Now  let  us  admit  this  for  the  time,  and  say  that  it  was  delivered 
15 


226  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

on  Monday,  before  the  meeting  of  the  Board.  Let  us  refer  to  the 
baker's  statement,  received  from  all  sources,  including  all  the  fol- 
lowing week,  140  barrels,  and  baked,  say  117,  which  is  the  same  as 
the  preceding  week.     How  does  the  statement  stand  ? 

Whole  amount  received  and  bills  passed     ....  2,854 

Amount  on  hand  July  3d 70 

Total  barrels 2,924 

Whole  amount  baked  to  January  ist,  1859 2,584 

To  be  accounted  for ' 340 


a 


Does  this,  after  giving  all  that  you  ask,  make  the  matter 
straight?  Now  I  insist  that  there  was  not  a  barrel  of  flour  de- 
livered at  the  House  from  the  25th  to  the  27th  of  December  when 
the  bills  were  passed." 

Councils  appointed  a  committee  to  investigate  the  flour  trans- 
actions and  the  Board  dropped  the  matter,  so  far  as  Mr.  Arm- 
strong's charges  were  concerned. 

At  the  same  meeting  Mr.  Karnes  offered  the  following  : 

"  Whereas,  Upon  an  examination  of  the  books  of  this  depart- 
ment, it  appears  that  in  the  six  months  elapsing  from  the  ist  of 
January  to  the  5th  of  July,  1858,  inclusive,  there  is  a  deficiency  of 
510  barrels  of  flour,  that  has  been  paid  for  more  than  was  delivered, 
by  the  Board  in  power  previous  to  this  ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  That  a  committee  be  appointed  to  investigate  the 
matter  and  report  to  this  Board." 

Messrs.  Kames,  Gamble  and  Smith  were  appointed,  but  no 
report  from  that  committee  appears  on  the  records. 

Mr.  Armstrong  called  attention  to  the  manner  in  which  meats 
were  furnished  and  distributed,  and  a  committee  was  appointed  to 
investigate.  A  long  report  was  made,  in  which  it  was  stated 
"  That  Councils,  with  a  false  view  of  economy,  refused  to  appropriate 
sufficient  to  pay  salaries  to  competent  clerks  to  keep  the  accounts. 
.  .  The  officers  of  the  institution  are  appointed  in  a  great 
measure  as  partisans  and  removed  solely  on  party  grounds.  Certain 
of  the  positions  for  but  a  single  year,  they  cannot  be  expected  to 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  227 

feel  that  interest  in  the  institution  which  they  would  if  their  situa- 
tions were  permanent,  as  in  New  York,  during  good  behavior."  The 
report  concluded  with  the  recommendation  of  a  system  which,  the 
committee  said,  "  would  render  any  scheme  of  fraud  impossible." 

Mr.  Armstrong,  not  wishing  to  associate  with  the  Board  any 
longer,  and  feeling  that  he  had  started  enough  worriment  to  last 
for  some  time,  tendered  his  resignation,  which  was  accepted ;  no 
doubt  it  was  received  with  joy. 

More  troubles  awaited ;  charges  of  corruption  came  from  all 
quarters ;  the  Controller  referred  to  Councils  bills  for  muslin  pur- 
chased by  Messrs.  Freno  and  Preall,  members  of  the  Board,  and 
they  asked  for  an  investigation. 

The  Committee  appointed  reported  that  the  muslin  could  have 
been  bought  for  less  than  the  amount  charged  in  the  bills  to  which 
the  Controller  objected,  but  acquitted  Messrs.  Freno  and  Preall  of 
any  intention  to  make  anything  out  of  the  transactions. 

The  Committee  of  Councils  appointed  to  investigate  the  flour 
transactions  submitted  a  long  report ;  there  was  no  whitewashing 
indulged  in,  as  the  following  extracts  from  it  show : 

"  The  Committee  met  at  the  Almshouse  on  February  22,  1859 
and  proceeded  to  examine  the  books  of  the  institution.  We  exam- 
ined the  book  kept  by  the  Almshouse  clerk  to  the  Board  of  Guard- 
ians, in  which  a  record  is  made  of  all  bills  passed  by  the  Board, 
the  date  of  each  bill  that  is  bought,  the  articles  bought,  the  prices 
paid,  the  names  of  the  person  or  persons  selling  to  the  Almshouse, 
the  names  of  the  Guardians  making  the  purchases,  the  dates  the 
Board  passed  the  bills  and  the  numbers  of  the  warrants  drawn  for 
the  payment  of  the  bills. 

"  We  examined  the  book  kept  by  the  storekeeper  of  the  Alms- 
house, in  which  a  record  is  made  of  the  purchases  for  Alms- 
house. 

"  We  also  examined  the  book  kept  by  the  Steward  of  the 
Almshouse,  in  which  a  record  is  made  once  a  week  of  the  flour 
received,  the  amount  consumed  and  the  amount  on  hand.  This 
record  is  kept  by  the  Steward  from  reports  made  to  him  by  the 
baker. 


228  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"These  three  books  were  examined  from  January  ist  to  July 
3,  1858,  whicli  embraces  the  first  part  of  tbis  report.  Secondly, 
tbey  were  examined  from  July  3,  1858,  to  February  17,  1859,  ^^^^- 
tive  to  the  flour  transactions  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  from 
January  i,  1858,  to  February  17,  1859. 

"  The  Committee  find  upon  the  examination  from  January  ist 
to  July  3d,  1858,  tbat  the  Board  passed  bills  for  flour  to  the  amount 
of  2,615  barrels  that  was  bought  between  January  ist  and  June  28th, 
1858.  The  bill  of  June  28tb  was  the  last  purchase  made  by  the 
old  Board  and  was  passed  by  that  Board  on  July  5,  1858.  This  is 
as  the  clerk's  book  shows. 

"  The  storekeeper's  book  shows  that  he  has  given  a  credit  for 
2,485  barrels  of  flour  as  received  into  the  institution  between  Janu- 
ar}^  ist  and  July  3d,  1858. 

"  The  Steward's  book  showed  that  he  received  between  January 
ist  and  July  3d,  1858,  inclusive,  2,597  barrels  of  flour.  The  last 
receipt  of  flour  by  him  was  July  3d.  These  three  statements 
show  the  following  results :  That  the  Board  passed  bills  for  130 
more  bai'rels  of  flour  than  the  storekeeper  has  any  record  of  on  his 
books.  The  bills  which  the  storekeeper  has  no  record  of  and  the 
Board  have  passed  are  as  follows,  viz :  for  30  barrels  purchased  of 
Peter  Maloy,  April  i,  1858,  purchased  by  Hugh  Gamble;  R.  H. 
Baker's  bill  for  50  barrels,  bought  June  28th,  by  Mr.  Heishley,  and 
T.  E.  Ivukens'  bill  for  50  barrels,  bought  June  28thj  by  Mr.  Heish- 
ley.    These  bills  have  been  paid. 

"  And  the  books  show  that  the  Board  passed  bills  for  18  more 
barrels  of  flour  than  the  Steward's  book  shows  he  received  as  the 
figures  stand  upon  his  book. 

"  If  you  take  the  amount  as  was  originally  entered  in  writing 
and  figures  before  any  erasures  were  made,  it  would  show  then 
that  the  Steward  had  not  received  as  much  flour  by  164  barrels  as 
the  Board  passed  bills  for. 

"  The  Steward's  book  shows  that  five  alterations  were  made 
from  January  ist  to  July  3d,  1858.  The  alterations  are:  January 
23d,  1858,  the  entry  in  writing  and  in  figures  is  for  157  barrels,  the 
figures  have  been  altered  to  125  barrels. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Alnishonses  and  Hospitals.  229 


a 


May  17th,  entered  in  writing  and  in  figures  for  90  barrels  ; 
figures  altered  to  70  barrels. 

"  May  27th,  entered  in  writing  and  in  figures  for  150  barrels, 
the  words  '  one  hundred  and '  have  been  erased,  and  the  word 
sixty  has  been  written  over  the  word  fifty,  and  the  figures  150 
have  been  altered  to  60. 

"  May  29th,  entered  in  writing  and  in  figures  for  139  barrels  ; 
altered  to  135. 

June  26th,  the  amount  entered  in  writing  is  entirely  erased. 


li 


RECAPITULATION    OF    ALTERATIONS. 

"  As  originally  entered.  As  altered  to. 

June  23d,   157  barrels June  23d,    125  barrels. 

May  17th,    90       "  May,  17th,     70 

May  22d,   150      "  May  26th,    60      " 

May  29th,  139      "  May  29th,  135      " 

June  26th  erased. 

Total  .    .     536  barrels 390  barrels. 

making  a  difference  between  the  alterations  and  the  original  entries 
of  146  barrels.  Now  if  the  original  entries  were  correct,  then  there 
was  a  loss  to  the  institution  of  146  barrels. 

"  The  amount  of  flour  entered  on  the  Steward's  book  as  baked 
March  6th,  in  writing  and  figures  was  125  barrels  ;  the  figures 
were  altered  to  105.  Now  if  this  original  entry  was  correct  there 
was  a  saving  of  20  barrels,  which  should  be  deducted  from  the  146 
barrels,  which  leave,  according  to  original  entries,  126  barrels  to 
be  accounted  for. 

"  The  committee  examined  the  books  of  the  clerk  to  the  Board, 
the  Storekeeper  and  the  Steward  from  July  3d,  1858,  to  February 
17th,  1859,  which  have  been  kept  under  the  present  Board  of 
Guardians. 

"  The  clerk's  book  shows  that  bills  have  been  passed  by  the 
Board  for  3,204  barrels  of  flour. 

"The  Storekeeper' s  book  shows  that  he  has  received  2,854 
barrels. 

"  The  Steward's  book  shows  that  he  has  received  3,159  barrels, 
or  the  baker  has  so  reported  to  him. 


230  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  These  books  therefore  show  that  the  Board  passed  bills  for 
350  barrels  more  than  the  Storekeeper  has  any  record  of  on  his 
books;  they  also  show  that  bills  have  been  passed  for  45  barrels 
more  than  were  reported  to  the  Steward  to  February  12th,  1859,  at 
which  time  the  baker  made  his  last  report  to  him. 

^' Now  the  great  difiBculty  of  the  committee  is  to  account  for 
the  160  barrels  that  were  reported  to  the  Steward  by  the  baker  on 
February  5th  and  200  barrels  on  February  12th.  As  the  last  pur- 
chase was  made  on  February  ist,  1859,  of  100  barrels,  bought  of 
J.  K.  Tyson,  and  the  bill  passed  the  Board  on  February  14th,  and 
the  entry  of  100  of  the  160  barrels  of  February  5th  is  easily 
accounted  for  by  the  purchase  of  February  ist  of  J.  K.  Tyson, 
which  could  not  have  been  reported  to  the  Steward  before  the 
5th;  the  200  barrels  reported  to  the  Steward  as  received,  which 
was  entered  upon  his  book  of  February  12th,  and  60  barrels  of  the 
entry  of  the  5th,  making  260  barrels  excess,  after  the  last  purchase 
of  Februarv  ist. 

"  Your  committee  have  not  been  enabled  from  all  the  testimony 
before  them  to  ascertain  where  it  came  from  ;  whether  it  was  in  the 
institution  previous  to  February  ist,  and  withheld  from  the  Stew- 
ard, or  whether  it  had  been  supplied  after  February  ist  to  makeup 
deficiencies  bj^  some  parties  unknown  to  your  committee.  If  such 
was  the  fact,  then  a  gross  fraud  was  attempted  upon  the  city,  and 
your  committee  think  that  every  person  who  takes  the  trouble  to 
read  the  records  and  testimony  taken  in  this  investigation  must 
come  to  the  same  conclusion,  and  that  the  flour  was  in  the  institu- 
tion before  February  ist,  or  it  has  been  sent  in  since  to  make  up 
deficiencies.  The  question  then  naturally  arises,  if  supplied  since 
February  ist,  how  far  the  city  is  liable  for  its  payment. 

"  The  storekeeper,  George  Jeffries,  was  examined  under  oath, 
and  said  most  emphatically,  '  No  flour  was  delivered  between  the 
ist  and  1 2th  of  February,  except  the  100  barrels  bought  of  J.  K. 
Tyson  on  the  ist. 

"  Now,  if  the  testimony  of  the  books  kept  by  the  Clerk  of  the 
Almshouse  to  the  Board  of  Guardians,  the  testimon^^  of  the  store- 
keeper, sixteen  members  of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  including  the 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  231 

House  Committee  for  the  month  of  February,  comprising  both 
sides  of  politics,  twelve  different  parties  who  have  been  in  the  habit 
of  selling  flour  to  the  Almshouse,  is  to  be  believed,  no  flour  was 
purchased  between  the  ist  and  12th  of  February,  and  this  260 
barrels,  which  is  entered  on  the  Steward's  book  as  received  on  the 
5th  and  12th  of  February  must  be  included  in  the  deficiency  bills. 

"  Whether  this  flour  was  delivered  before  or  after  the  bills 
were  passed,  one  important  fact  is  established,  that  no  person  can 
collect  a  bill  for  the  flour  entered  upon  the  Steward's  book  of  Feb- 
ruary 5th  and  1 2th,  except  the  100  barrels  bought  of  J.  K.  Tj^son 
on  February  ist. 

''  If  frauds  have  been  attempted  to  be  committed,  then  this 
investigation  has  frustrated  the  designs  of  those  making  the 
attempt." 

The  Committee  recommended  the  reorganization  of  the  Poor 
Department,  and  an  entirely  different  system  of  making  purchases 
for  the  Almshouse. 

The  testimony  taken  by  the  Committee  was  submitted  to 
Councils,  and  some  of  it  was  very  interesting,  showing,  as  it  did, 
the  very  loose,  if  not  criminal  manner  in  which  the  business  of  the 
Board  was  conducted.  Upon  the  examination  of  some  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  some  very  queer  answers  were 
elicited.  Mr.  Kames  especially  became  noted  for  some  of  his 
answers.  In  reply  to  one  question  he  said,  "  I  do  not  know  of  any 
member  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  receiving  commissions  for  the 
purchase  of  flour.  Various  members  have  been  charged  with 
fraud.  We  have  all  been  charged  with  fraud,  and  with  being 
thieves." 

When  he  was  asked,  "  Have  you,  either  directly  or  indirectly, 
been  connected  with  the  flour  transactions,  in  which  you  have 
received  a  bonus  or  an  interest?"  he  declined  to  answer,  because, 
he  said,  "I  consider  the  queztion  impertinent." 

He  said  that  the  entry  of  a  bill  for  200  barrels  of  flour,  upon 
the  Storekeeper's  book,  purporting  to  have  been  purchased  Decem 
ber  28th,  of  A.  Harvey,  was  investigated  by  a  committee  appointed 
for  that  purpose.     Among  the    parties  before  the  committee  was 


232  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Mr.  Fisher,  a  member  of  the  Board,  who  stated  that  he  had  ordered 
the  bill  entered  on  the  book,  for  the  purpose  of  having  the  matter 
in  shape  for  passing  when  the  flour  was  delivered  His  reasons  for 
so  doing  were  that  the  parties  were  friends  of  his,  and  as  he  was 
about  leaving  the  city  for  Harrisburg,  the  parties  of  whom  he  had 
purchased  were  fearful  that,  if  neglected,  it  might  be  left  over. 
The  reason  given  for  not  delivering  the  flour  at  the  time  of  the 
alleged  purchase  was  "  there  was  not  room  for  it." 

It  is  somewhat  strange  to  see  that  flour  was  purchased  that 
could  not  be  delivered  because  "  there  was  not  room  for  it,"  when 
we  remember  that,  but  a  few  months  previous  to  this  investigation, 
this  same  Mr.  Kames  introduced  a  series  of  resolutions  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  in  which  he  denounced  the  mem- 
bers of  Councils  for  "  leaving  the  Board  without  money  to  pur- 
chase necessary  supplies  for  the  support  of  the  inmates,"  and 
threatening  to  solicit  donations  from  public-spirited  citizens  for  the 
support  of  the  lunatic  and  children's  asylum,  and  to  discharge  the 
adult  paupers,"  and  recommend  them  to  the  mercy  of  Councils. 

Now  it  seems  that  conditions  have  changed.  The  Board 
appears  to  have  more  money  than  can  be  properly  expended,  and 
when  any  of  the  members  are  about  to  leave  the  city,  they  order  a 
couple  of  hundred  of  barrels  of  flour,  so  that  no  time  need  be 
lost,  and  the  flour  merchant  can  wait  until  enough  of  the  surplus 
stock  is  used  to  make  room  for  his  delivery.  It  is  not  to  be  won- 
dered at  that  no  two  of  the  books  agreed,  or  that  bijls  were  passed 
for  more  than  had  been  received.  To  term  such  methods  as  being 
"  loose  "  is  more  than  moderate  ;  criminal  would  be  nearer  to  the 
proper  name. 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

REORGANIZATION— LIBERAL   OFFER   OF  HOMCEOPATHIC  PHYSICIANS. 

THE  community  at  large  liad  lost  all  confidence  in  the  Board, 
and  when  the  Legislature,  in  compliance  with  the  general 
request,  passed  an   act    changing  the   mode    of   selecting 
Guardians  of  the  Poor,  it  met  with  a  hearty  welcome  b}^ 
the  public. 

Under  the  new  law,  the  Supreme  Court  appointed  George 
Williams,  Rowland  E.  Evans  and  Joseph  M.  Linnard ;  the  District 
Court,  Conrad  S.  Escher,  William  P.  Cresson  and  Frederick  A. 
Server ;  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas,  John  M.  Maris,  Elhanan  W. 
Keyser  and  John  Robbins  ;  the  City  Councils,  James  N.  Marks^ 
Mahlon  H.  Dickinson  and  John  D.  Lentz. 

The  character  and  reputation  of  these  gentlemen  were  closely 
looked  into.  Three  of  them,  Messrs.  Williams,  Server  and  Marks, 
had  been  on  the  Board,  and  knew  the  details  of  the  institution  and 
its  management. 

The  others  were  mostly  men  of  means,  who  could  afford  to 
give  the  time  to  attend  to  the  duties.  At  this  period  there  was 
strong  political  feeling  and  antagonism  between  the  People's  Party, 
a  large  majoritj^  of  whom  became  Republicans,  and  the  Democrats, 
or  Loco  Foco's,  as  they  were  then  termed. 

The  following  editorials,  quoted  from  the  papers  of  that  time, 
will  show  something  of  the  feeling  existing.  One  said  :  "  The 
gentlemen  who  have  received  these  appointments  are,  so  far  as  we 
know  them,  reputable  and  upright  business  men  ;  but  we  regret  to 
notice  that  the  Supreme  Court  has  set  the  example  in  their  selec- 
tions, by  taking  from  the  many  intelligent  and  retired  gentlemen 
of  this  city,  only  those  who  are  active  Loco  Foco  politicians.  This 
act  does  not  suggest  the  conclusion  that  the  future  Board  is  to 
ignore  politics  in  their  organization.  Judges  Ludlow  and  Shars- 
wood,  profiting  by  this  example,  have  made  similar  appointments  ; 
whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  the  Judges  of  the  lower  Court,  who  are 
said  to  sympathize  M-ith   the   People's  Party,  have  selected  gentle- 

233 


234  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

men  who  have  in  a  great  measure  been  unknown  in  the  political 
arena,  and  sucli  men  as  would  doubtless  administer  their  trusts 
regardless  of  any  political  influences. 

"  That  the  existence  of  Judge  Read,  the  only  Judge  whose  life 
bas  been  passed  among  us,  and  whose  interests  bave  always  been 
identified  with  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  should  have  been  entirely 
disregarded  as  an  appointing  power  in  the  Supreme  Court,  was  a 
sufficient  reason  why  those  other  Judges  of  the  same  politics 
should  have  provided  against  the  possibility  of  a  Loco  Foco  organ- 
ization of  the  Department. 

"  The  Councils  in  their  election  bave  not  been  unmindful  of 
the  interests  of  the  city.  They  bave  taken  for  tbe  three  years' 
term  Mr,  James  N.  Marks,  who  passed  a  great  portion  of  his  life 
in  the  service  of  the  institution  over  the  river.  As  a  Guardian 
upon  a  former  occasion,  he  was  one  of  the  most  efficient  and  faith- 
ful the  city  ever  possessed.  His  independence  and  determination 
during  that  service  cannot  be  denied,  and  no  man  is  able  to  truth- 
fully say  that  he  has  feasted  at  the  expense  of  the  city,  or  had 
taken  the  value  of  a  penny  that  did  not  belong  to  him.  He  neither 
broke  public  bread,  smoked  a  cigar,  nor  took  from  the  garden  even 
a  bunch  of  flowers.  And  yet  he  is  one  of  the  first  of  the  new  ap- 
pointments to  be  assailed  by  the  Loco  Foco  papers, 

"  The  object  of  the  assault  is  apparent  to  every  man.  The 
design  is  unquestionably  to  detract  from  Mr,  M.  any  influence  he 
might  possess  as  an  upright,  intelligent  and  honest  man,  one 
thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  wants  of  the  institution,  and  his 
official  duties. 

"  Messrs.  Dickinson  and  Lentz  are  both  good  appointments. 
We  believe  them  to  be  discreet  and  honorable  gentlemen,  and  that 
they  would  not  perpetrate  a  wrong,  either  public  or  private,  in  their 
official  capacity.  The  same  may  be  sajd  of  every  one  of  the  gen- 
tlemen who  belong  to  the  People's  Party,  appointed  by  the  Courts. 
We  would  not  be  willing  to  believe  that  the  appointments  of  the 
Loco  Foco  Judges  differ  from  them  in  this  respect.  We  only 
regret  that  they  should  be  such  decided  politicians,  and  fear  that 
their  influence  may  be  covertly  exerted  to  serve  party  purposes. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  235 

"  It  is  certainly  proper  that  this  new  Board  should  be  governed 
by  their  own  experience  in  making  changes  in  the  department ; 
but  we  earnestly  counsel  them  to  avoid  hasty  action. 

''  Public  clamor  and  newspaper  scandal  should  never  deter 
fearless  and  honest  men  from  doing  their  duty,  nor  should  it  force 
them  to  do  an  injustice  to  the  institution  or  its  officers. 

"  We  therefore  caution  this  Board  against  all  improper  influ- 
ences. Let  theni  enter  upon  their  duties  determined  to  eradicate 
every  evil  they  may  discover  to  exist ;  but  let  them  see  and  knoM'- 
by  their  own  observation  that  changes  are  proper  and  ought  to  be 
made. 

"  It  is  not  very  likely  that  a  large  majority  of  the  Board  can 
understand  the  true  character  of  the  important  trust  they  have 
assumed,  in  the  beginning  of  their  career,  and  as  the  public  ex- 
pects much  from  these  gentlemen,  it  will  be  well  for  them  to  exer- 
cise much  caution  in  the  outset. 

"  These  we  know  are  the  views  of  the  mass  of  the  people,  and 
we  are  entirely  disposed  to  endorse  them.  An  injustice  done  in 
the  beginning  will  start  an  opposition  at  once  which  it  will  be  diffi- 
cult to  arrest." 

Another  paper,  after  giving  the  names  of  the  members  elected 
by  Councils,  said : 

"  Mr.  Marks,  the  first  on  the  list,  is  one  of  the  particular 
friends  of  Dr.  R.  K.  Smith,  the  present  Almshouse  physician.  He 
was  formerly  a  member  of  the  Board,  and  during  the  term  of  his 
office,  in  1855,  had  as  good  an  opportunity  to  keep  fast  horses  at 
the  public  crib  as  almost  any  one  else.  We  cannot  regard  his  ap- 
pointment as  a  promising  one  in  any  light.  Mr.  Dickinson  is  a 
reputable  citizen  of  the  Sixteenth  Ward,  and  last  year  represented 
his  ward  in  Common  Council.  Mr.  Lentz  is  a  gentleman  of  good 
standing  and  strict  business  habits.  Both  of  these,  we  believe,  will 
serve  the  public  faithfully. 

"  The  tickets  circulated  among  the  Councilmen  were,  with  the 
■exception  of  the  names  of  Messrs.  Dickinson  and  Marks,  made  up 
of  those  of  the  present  Board  of  Guardians.  Among  the  candidates 
were :  E.   B-   Smith,  (P.   P.)  ;  J.   L.   Hamelin,    (distributor  of  coal 


236  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

contracts)  ;  J.  J.  Allison,  (vindicator  of  Buzzardism),  and  A.  H. 
Dunlay  (the  silent  and  sly).  The  names  were  conveniently  ar- 
ranged, so  that,  whoever  was  defeated,  Mr.  Marks,  who  was  on 
all  tickets,  would  slide  in.  He  appears  to  have  been  the  special 
favorite  of  the  present  Board,  and,  unless  we  are  mistaken,  will  be 
regarded  by  them  as  their  representative. 

"  Those  chosen  for  the  Board  of  Health  are,  with  the  exception 
of  Dr.  Jewell,  hardly  as  well  litted.  for  the  position  as  the  gentle- 
men named  by  the  Courts.  But  they  are,  perhaps,  as  good  as  could 
be  expected  from  a  partisan  body. 

"  The  new  Boards  are  now  filled.  Mr.  Williams,  we  under- 
stand, intends  to  hold  on  to  his  appointment  to  the  Poor  Board, 
notwithstanding  the  opposition  manifested  everywhere  to  it. 

"  Rol)ert  Ewing  has  signified  his  intention  of  resigning.  He 
did  not  seek  the  position,  and  his  appointment  was  a  tribute  to  his 
personal  worth.  He  has  every  qualification  to  fill  the  ofiice  honor- 
ably, and  we  trust  he  may  reconsider  his  intentions. 

"  Elhanan  W.  Keyser,  it  is  stated,  will  also  resign  his  position,, 
in  consequence  of  ill  health.  This  intelligence  will  be  received 
among  all  good  citizens  with  sincere  regret. 

"  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  have  a  Herculean  task  before 
them.  They  should  at  once,  upon  organizing,  institute  a  searching 
investigation  into  all  the  affairs  of  their  predecessors.  They  owe 
it  to  themselves,  no  less  than  to  the  public,  to  ascertain  the  whole 
amount  of  purchases  made,  how  much  of  these  have  been  deliv- 
ered at  the  Almshouse,  what  quantity  of  fuel,  clothing  and  sup- 
plies of  every  kind  remain  on  hand,  what  proportion  of  the  annual 
appropriation  has  been  spent,  what  sum  is  to  the  credit  of  the  de- 
partment, and  so  on. 

"  This  inquiry  and  a  general  publication  of  the  result,  are 
essential  and  should  be  immediately  made. 

''  They  should  proceed  to  clear  the  institution  of  the  fungi 
therein.  In  the  first  place  they  should  elect  a  capable,  discreet  and 
gentlemanly  Resident  Physician  in  the  place  of  Dr.  R.  K.  Smith. 
To  do  otherwise  would  awaken  general  indignation.  The  affairs- 
and  the  conduct  of  the  ofiicials  deserve  and  should  receive  a  rigid. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  237 

inspection,  ani  especially  the  Steward's  and  the  Storekeeper's  de- 
partments. In  a  word  the  community  expects  the  new  Board  to 
start  fairly  and  squarely,  with  a  candid  exposition  of  Almshouse 
affairs  and  a  thorough  clearance  of  every  officer  who  has  in  any 
way  departed  from  an  honest  discharge  of  duty.  We  shall  see 
what  they  will  do." 

The  last  meeting  of  the  old  Board  was  held  on  the  4th  of 
July,  1859,  at  the  Almshouse,  for  the  purpose  of  closing  up  the  busi- 
ness of  the  year,  previous  to  final  adjournment. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Visitors  contained  the  following  in- 
formation :  "  Sent  to  the  Almshouse  during  the  year,  4,495  ;  doc- 
tors'orders,  2,602;  funerals,  58;  coffins,  138;  tons  of  coal  dis- 
tributed, 4,510  ;  cords  of  wood  distributed,  1,062/^  ;  cash  paid  for  re- 
lief, $275.81  ;  incidentals,  $341.22  ;  groceries  distributed,  $14,188.87. 

The  Out-door  Agent  collected  $2,852.00  for  immigrant  tax. 
A  resolution  was  adopted  appropriating  $100  to  the  Out-door  Agent 
for  services  rendered  in  collecting  this  tax. 

Dr.  Oliver  offered  a  resolution  "  returning  thanks  to  the  offi- 
cers of  the  House  for  the  efficient  manner  in  which  they  have  con- 
ducted the  affairs  of  the  institution,"  which  was  adopted  unani- 
mously. 

Mr.  Hamelin  offered  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  the  President 
of  the  Board,  for  the  satisfactory  manner  in  which  he  had  dis- 
charged his  duties,  which  was  also  unanimously  adopted. 

The  President  returned  his  thanks  to  the  members  and  said 
that  he  and  his  colleagues  separated  with  the  kindliest  feelings. 
He  suggested  that  the  retiring  Board  receive  the  new  Board  in  a 
suitable  manner,  and  not  treat  them  as  he  and  his  colleagues  had 
been  treated — when  they  entered  the  House  by  one  door,  the  old 
Board  went  out  by  another,  and  left  them  to  get  along  in  the  best 
way  they  could. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  requesting  the  Steward  to  introduce 
the  new  Board  in  the  meeting  room  ;  after  which  the  old  Board 
adjourned  sine  die. 

At  10  o'clock  the  members  of  the  Board  reassembled,  when 
the  members  of  the  new  Board   were  introduced  by  Mr.   Henzey, 


238  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

the  Steward,  and  were  welcomed  by  Mr.  Kensil,  the  retiring  Presi- 
dent, who  stated  the  willingness  of  himself  and  his  colleagues  of  the 
old  Board  to  render  any  information  to  the  new  Board  that  might 
be  desired. 

The  old  Board  then  vacated  the  seats,  and  the  members  of 
the  new  Board  were  sworn  by  Alderman  Beitler  to  support  the 
Constitution  of  the  State  and  of  the  United  States,  and  to  perform 
the  duties  of  the  ofi&ce  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  with  fidelity,  after 
which  the  Board  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  B.  W.  Keyser 
as  President. 

Mr.  Keyser,  upon  taking  the  chair,  made  the  following  brief 
speech  : 

"  For  the  honor  you  have  thus  conferred  upon  me  I  return 
my  sincere  thanks.  I  pledge  myself  to  perform  the  duties 
of  the  office  with  fidelity  and  impartiality.  What  can  I  say 
more  ?  " 

Mr.  F.  A.  Server  was  elected  Treasurer,  Mr.  Henzey,  Steward, 
and  nearly  all  of  the  subordinates  of  the  institution  were  retained, 
so  it  will  be  seen  that  the  Board  did  not  act  upon  the  advice  to 
make  a  clean  sweep. 

This  is  an  account  of  the  meeting  as  it  appears  on  the  minute 
book.  The  papers  of  that  time  went  more  into  details  and  pub- 
lished the  proceedings  in  their  own  style.  One  of  the  newspapers 
contained  the  following  under  a  heading  styled  "  The  dying  words 
of  the  doomed." 

"  The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  gave  up  the  ghost  on 
the  morning  of  July  4th,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  fifty- 
nine.  An  event  so  important  to  tax  payers,  who  have  been  fleeced 
so  completely  by  the  majority  of  the  twenty-four,  deserves  a  special 
record,  and  we  accordingly  transfer  to  the  columns  '  the  dying 
words  of  the  doomed.' 

"  After  the  consideration  of  a  few  reports  and  a  resolution 
voting  one  hundred  dollars  extra  pay  to  somebody  in  office  and 
likely  to  go  out, 

"  Dr.  Oliver  ofiered  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  the  officers  of 
tbe  institution,  and  of  the  Board,  and  especially  the  Steward  and 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  239 

tlie  farmer,  for  their  uniform  capability,  diligence  and  integrity  in 
the  performance  of  their  duties. 

"  The  President  remarked  that  with  one  exception,  and  this 
one  he  would  not  name  under  the  circumstances,  all  of  the  officers 
of  the  Board  had  done  their  duty  in  a  manner  that  should  com- 
mand the  respect  of  everybody. 

''  Mr.  Brown  said  that  to  the  ability  of  Mr.  Henzey,  Steward, 
and  Mr.  Myers,  farmer,  he  owed  the  duty  of  bearing  the  strongest 
,testimony.     The  ability  and  efficiency  of  both  were  above  praise. 

"  Mr.  Budd  also  said  that  he  fully  endorsed  the  comments  of 
the  gentlemen  who  had  preceded  him.  With  one  exception  every 
officer  of  the  Board  had  done  his  duty.  That  one  person  he  should 
not  name,  but  he  had  entailed  upon  this  Board  and  upon  the  Alms- 
house a  stigma  which  could  not  be  wiped  out.  With  this  exception 
he  would  heartily  endorse  the  resolution,  and  hoped  it  would  pass 
unanimously. 

"  Mr.  Kames  '  wouldn'  make  any  exception  whatever.  He 
knew  the  person  referred  to,  but  thought  he  was  more  sinned 
against  than  sinning.  The  bills  of  mortality  during  the  past 
year,'  added  he,  '  show  that  as  a  physician  this  man  has  done  his 
duty  as  well  as  any  man  that  ever  occupied  the  position.  If  he 
does  anything  outside  of  that  its  his  own  business.'  The  Pre- 
sident :  '  No  name  has  been  mentioned.'  Mr.  Kames  :  '  No,  but 
everybody  knows  who  is  meant.  I  go  in  for  covering  up  all 
animosities  at  a  time  like  this.  There  is  no  use  killing  a  man  after 
he's  dead.' 

"  Mr.  Freno  said  that  in  leaving  the  Board  he  wished  to  thank 
his  associates  for  all  their  uniform  courtesies  to  himself  and  the 
officers  of  the  Board  and  of  the  institution  for  their  unvarying 
gentlemanly  deportment  to  everybody.  He  would  heartily  support 
the  resolution.     The  resolution  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

"  Mr.  Hamelin  offered  a  resolution  of  thanks  to  R.  W.  Kensil, 
the  President  of  the  Board.  It  was  adopted  unanimously,  and  the 
President  responded  gracefully  and  feelingly  in  reply. 

"  Mr.  Kames  seemed  to  have  died  harder  than  the  rest.  He 
seems  to  have  almost  wept  over  his  fate,  and  '  at  a  time  like  this  ^ 


240  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

was  ready  '  to  cover  up  all  animosities.'  With  keen  and  cutting 
memories  still  clinging  to  his  susceptible  heart,  he  couldn't  help 
thinking,  and  that  aloud,  that  '  there  was  no  use  killing  a  man 
after  he's  dead.'  Alas,  and  has  the  paragon  to  whom  Mr.  Kames 
referred  no  other  praise  than  this  !  How  are  the  mighty  fallen, 
when  such  a  saint  as  Dr.  Robert  K.  Smith,  of  Fagan  fame,  has 
none  so  poor  as  to  do  him  reverence,  who  must  be  passed  by  because 
'  there  was  no  use  killing  a  man  after  he's  dead.'  Alack !  one 
short  month  ago  it  was  not  thus.  One  month  hence  it  will  not  be 
as  it  now  is.     Amen." 

One  of  the  first  of  the  important  subjects  to  claim  the  attention 
of  the  new  Board  was  the  reorganization  of  the  medical  department. 
From  the  manner  in  which  it  had  been  managed  and  the  very 
decided  opposition  to  the  continuance  of  Dr.  Smith  as  Chief  Resi- 
dent Physician,  it  was  thought  that  the  best  solution  of  that  ques- 
tion would  be  the  abolition  of  the  office  and  a  return  to  the  old 
system. 

A  resolution  to  that  effect  was  offered  and  referred  to  a  com- 
mittee. Two  reports  v/ere  made  to  the  Board  on  July  i8th,  1859, 
the  majority  report  favored  it,  while  that  of  the  minority  opposed 
the  proposition.     In  the  latter  report  it  was  stated  : 

"  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  under  its  present  organization, 
exists  by  virtue  of  a  recent  law,  extorted  from  the  Legislature  by 
the  force  of  public  opinion  founded  on  the  belief  that  much  corrup- 
tion and  extravagant  expenditures  existed  in  the  Department, 
oppressive  to  the  taxpayers  and  injurious  to  the  prosperity  of  the 
city.  The  great  object  of  the  Board,  therefore,  is  to  proceed  at 
once  to  the  performance  of  the  duties  for  which  it  was  created, 
those  of  investigating  and  removing  the  abuses  alleged  to  exist  in 
the  management  of  affairs,  and  not  to  waste  the  time  of  the  mem- 
bers here  and  in  committees  in  discussing  subjects  with  respect  to 
which  two-thirds  of  them  are  wholly  inexperienced. 

"  As  the  model  system  of  the  world,  that  of  the  Hospitals  of 
Paris  ought  not  to  be  overlooked.  In  considering  this  question  it 
may-  be  well  to  observe  here  that  in  them  all  the  medical  officers, 
from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  receive  salaries,  and  that  by  abol- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  241 

ishiiig  the  office  of  Chief  Resident  Physician  the  Board  will  be 
departing  wholly  from  the  principles  of  this  model,  and  removing 
the  only  paid  and  responsible  officer  who  can  assist  them  in  the 
performance  of  a  most  important  part  of  their  duties." 

"  Action  was  postponed  for  the  present." 

The  physicians  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  were 
very  anxious  to  practice  and  teach,  in  Blockley  Hospital,  and  on 
the  8th  of  August,  1859,  they  presented,  through  Mr.  Linnard, 
the  following  very  liberal  proposition  : 

"  We,  the  subscribers,  Physicians  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
and  Professors  of  the  Homoeopathic  Medical  College  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, propose  to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  as  Directors  of  the 
Blockley  Hospital,  to  take  entire  charge  of  the  medical  department 
of  that  institution,  to  carefully,  punctually  and  faithfully  examine 
and  prescribe  for  all  cases  that  shall  be  sent  to  the  wards  of  the 
Hospital,  we,  ourselves,  bearing  the  expense  of  all  the  medicines 
which  may  be  necessary,  and  we  pledge  ourselves  that  for  one  year 
from  this  date  the  institution  shall  be  at  no  expense  for  the  same, 
thus  saving  the  city  the  sum  of  $12,000  for  the  year." 

This  was  signed  by  Doctors  Charles  J.  Hempel,  John  Redman 
Coxe,  J.  W.  Ward,  Jacob  Blakely,  W.  Ashton  Reed,  M.  Semple 
and  Thomas  Moore. 

The  Board  was  not  prepared  to  consider  such  an  important 
measure  at  that  time,  so  the  proposition  was  laid  on  the  table. 

The  office  of  Chief  Resident  Physician  was  abolished,  to  take 
effect  on  the  15th  of  September,  1859.  "  Dr.  Smith  was  notified  to 
vacate  and  surrender  possession  of  the  premises  now  occupied  by 
him  at  the  Almshouse." 

This  did  not  suit  the  doctor,  and  he  ignored  the  notice  until 
he  found  that  "  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor."  He  sent 
the  following  communication  to  the  Board  on  October  11,  1859: 
"  I  am  willing  at  this  time  to  deliver  up  possession  of  the  house  I 
now  occupy.  My  self-respect  dictates  that  I  should  not  remain 
when  the  Board  wishes  me  to  go ;  and  I  therefore  relinquish  all 
my  legal  rights.''  He  strongly  denounced  Mr.  Linnard,  a  member 
of  the  Board,  as  the  author  of  the  proceedings  against  him  ;  he 
16 


242  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

said  that  lie  incurred  the  enmity  of  Mr.  Linnard  by  suspending  a 
relative  of  his  (Mr.  L.'s)  from  the  Medical  Department  nearly  a 
year  before. 

After  the  reading  of  the  letter,  Mr.  Linnard  said  that  "there 
was  not  a  word  of  truth  in  the  assertions  of  Dr.  Smith," 

Whatever  may  have  been  the  abilities  of  Dr.  Smith,  he  seems 
to  have  been  a  man  of  such  temperament  as  to  make  himself  dis- 
liked by  a  large  number  of  those  with  whom  he  was  brought  in 
contact. 

Much  feeling  and  comment  were  caused  by  the  omission  of  a 
bid  for  furnishing  the  Almshouse  with  meat,  which  was  sent  to  the 
ofi&ce  of  the  Board  by  Mr.  John  Palmer. 

Mr.  Palmer  swore  that  on  the  31st  of  July,  1859,  he  handed  to 
Mr.  Seultzer  a  proposal  in  writing  to  furnish  the  Almshouse  with 
beef  for  $4.95  per  hundred  pounds,  M^hich  proposal  he  believed  was 
withheld  from  the  Board  after  it  was  handed  to  Mr.  C.  M.  Derrin- 
ger, the  Secretary  of  the  Board. 

Mr.  Seultzer  swore  that  he  handed  the  proposal  to  Mr.  Der- 
ringer on  the  ist  of  August,  and  Mr.  Charles  B.  Miller  swore  that 
he  was  present  at  that  time  and  saw  Mr.  Seultzer  hand  two  papers 
enclosed  in  envelopes,  which  he  believed  to  be  proposals  for  beef,  to 
Mr.  Derringer ;  he  said  the  Secretary  looked  at  them  and  said  that 
the  endorsements  were  correct. 

Messrs,  Server,  Marks  and  Dickinson  were  appointed  as 
a  committee  to  investigate  the  matter.  Messrs.  Server  and 
Marks  made  a  majority  report,  in  which  they  stated:  "Your 
Committee  are  of  opinion  that  the  contract  with  Mr.  Hunt 
is  a  fortunate  one. 

Mr.  Jones  states  in  reference  to  it  that  the  expectation  was 
in  offering  it  that,  if  things  should  continue  in  statu  quo  for 
two  months,  ^some  two  hundred  dollars  could  be  made  on  the 
contract,  and  that  by  reserving  the  choice  pieces  for  the  regular 
trade  and  furnishing  the  Almshouse  the  rough  pieces  called 
for  in  the  advertisement.  But  he  also  stated  that  within  two 
months  the  state  of  the  market  might  so  change  that  an  immense 
loss  might  result,  even  several  thousand  dollars.    The  profit,  quad 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  248 

rupled  on  the  amount  stated  above,  would  not  be  unreasonable, 
your  Committee  think,  in  the  face  of  the  risk  incurred,  if 
the  above  statement  is  made  upon  possible  changes  in  the  beef 
market. 

"  Your  committee  was  not  charged  to  inquire  whether  Mr. 
Hunt's  contract  should  be  abided  by;  but  since  Mr.  Palmer  in  his 
petition  asks  that  the  present  award  be  set  aside  and  his  proposal 
accepted,  your  committee  take  occasion  to  remind  the  Board  that 
your  advertisement  was  for  proposals  from  responsible  parties,  and 
it  may  very  properly  be  questioned  whether,  under  the  testimony 
and  statement  exhibited,  the  public  interests  would  be  subserved 
by  a  change. 

"  Your  committee  conclude  that  the  question  '  the  accident, 
mistake  or  neglect '  by  which  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Palmer  was  lost, 
is  a  matter  between  that  gentleman  and  Mr.  Seultzer,  and  not 
between  this  Board  and  its  Secretary.  It  seems  quite  probable  that 
Mr.  Palmer's  bid  would  never  have  been  heard  of  had  Mr.  Hunt's 
bid  been  $5.22,  or  Mr.  Seultzer's  $5.16. 

"Fully  exonerating  Mr.  Derringer  from  all  complicity  or 
neglect,  your  committee  would  conclude  by  expressing  their  confi- 
dence in  his  faithfulness  as  an  ofiBcer,  and  respectfully  submit  the 
following  resolution  : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  committee  be  discharged  from  the  further 
consideration  of  the  subject." 

Mr.  Dickinson  submitted  a  minority  report,  which  stated  "  that, 
upon  inquiry,  he  had  ascertained  that  the  gentlemen  who  testi- 
fied in  relation  to  the  facts  of  the  alleged  proposal  having  been 
made  by  Mr.  Palmer,  are  gentlemen  of  standing  and  entitled  to' 
belief;  and  he  felt  constrained  to  give  full  credit  to  all  they  had 
sworn  to  relative  to  the  alleged  missing  proposal  submitted  to  the 
Board,  and  which,  from  all  the  testimony  adduced,  he  believed,  must 
have  been  lost  or  purloined  from  the  Secretary's  desk." 

The  majority  report  was  agreed  to  and  the  committee  dis- 
charged. 

The  newspapers  of  that  period  commented  upon  the  action  of 
the  Board,  and  one  of  them  had  this  editorial : 


244  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  The  Almshouse  Beef  Contract." 

"  One  of  the  most  disgraceful  proceedings  that  has  lately  oc- 
curred in  an}^  public  body,  was  enacted  in  the  Board  of  Guardians 
of  the  Poor  on  Monday  last. 

"  The  details  of  the  beef  business  are  familiar  to  most  of  our 
readers,  but  the  manner  in  which  the  proposal  of  Mr.  Palmer  was 
purloined  or  suppressed  is  likely  to  remain  unknown  only  to  the 
guilty  parties.  No  one  doubts,  or  can  doubt,  that  John  Palmer 
made  a  proposal  in  a  proper  manner  to  the  Board  ;  and,  according  to 
Hs  testimony  and  that  of  another  important  witness,  his  bid  was 
lower  than  that  of  any  or  all  of  the  othf^rs  competing  with  him. 
Messrs.  Server  and  Marks,  however,  notwithstaning  Mr.  Palmer 
offered  to  supply  the  Almshouse  with  beef  at  $4.95  per  hundred 
weight,  consider  the  city  quite  *  fortunate '  in  being  obliged  to  pay 
Mr.  Hunt  $5.20;  and  they  have  the  boldness  to  say  that  this  con- 
clusion of  theirs  was  brought  about  by  a  statement  of  John  H. 
Jones,  the  late  beef  contractor  of  the  Almshouse  and  brother-in- 
law  of  this  very  man  Hunt. 

"  The  figuring  of  these  apologists  for  fraudulent  transactions 
is  really  deserving  of  attention.  They  say  that  Hunt,  at  the  pres- 
ent rates,  will  reap  a  profit  of  $100  per  month,  and  yet  they  con- 
sider that  another  party  could  not  afford  to  supply  the  institution 
for  $80  per  month,  or  five  per  cent,  less  than  the  profit  above 
stated.  They  are  not  willing  that  the  Board  shall  pay  an  advance 
of  one  thousand  dollars  per  year  to  one  person,  but  they  a7'e  will- 
ing that  another  shall  receive  fort3^-eight  hundred  dollars  for  the 
same  service. 

"  They  think,  even,  that  this  would  not  be  at  all  '  unreason- 
able.' It  may  appear  right  enough  to  Messrs.  Server  and  Marks 
thus  to  squander  thirty-eight  hundred  dollars,  but  the  public  will 
hardly  agree  with  them  or  indorse  such,  folly. 

"  But  what  right  have  the  gentlemen  to  assume  that  Mr. 
Palmer  would  not  fulfill  his  contract  as  faithfully  as  Mr.  John  H. 
Jones'  brother-in-law  ? 

"  He  is,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  a  man  of  equal  respectability, 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  245 

quite  as  honorable  in  his  business  transactions,  and  perhaps  a  little 
better  able  to  carry  out  a  contract  in  all  its  requirements.  It  is 
a  bold  assumption,  therefore,  on  their  part,  because  wholl}^  unwar- 
ranted, and  because  it  has  added  to  the  expenses  of  the  Almshouse 
management,  without  any  justification  whatever. 

"  Mr.  Dickinson,  whose  minority  report  was  more  fair  and  just 
in  all  its  conclusions,  has  entitled  himself  to  public  approval  for  his 
course  on  this  subject;  and,  indeed,  his  career  throughout  is  in 
marked  contrast  with  that  of  Messrs.  Server  and  Marks,  who  were 
members  of  the  Board  in  former  years,  and  whose  appointment 
cannot  but  be  regretted.  Had  such  experienced  hands  been  ex- 
cluded from  appointment  and  men  of  Mr.  Dickinson's  stamp  only 
chosen,  no  whitewashing  like  that  which  has  taken  place  would  in 
all  probabilities  have  occurred.  As  it  is,  the  President  should 
hereafter  exclude  Messrs.  Marks  and  Server  from  committees  of 
investigation,  for  the  reason  that  they  are  utterly  unfit  to  honorably 
discharge  the  duties  imposed." 

At  this  meeting  the  House  Committee  presented  a  statement 
showing  that  they  had  on  hand  three  barrels  of  whiskey  purchased 
from  Bispham  &  Son,  which  the  committee,  after  having  the  quality 
and  price  tested,  considered  of  inferior  quality  and  exorbitant  price- 

The  article  was  said  to  have  cost  62^  cents  per  gallon,  although 
the  bill  had  not  been  presented  for  consideration. 

The  question  of  returning  the  whiskey  to  Messrs.  Bispham  & 
Son,  together  with  the  bill  of  James  Elliott  for  whiskey  and  port 
wine,  were  brought  before  the  Board  for  action  upon  them. 

A  long  discussion  ensued,  and  the  quality  of  the  whiskey  fur- 
nished by  Mr.  Elliott  and  Messrs.  Bispham  was  discussed,  during 
which  much  temper  was  shown  by  some  of  the  members  of  the 
Board.  Mr.  Maris  asserted  that  the  whiskey  furnished  by  Mr. 
Elliott  was  not  worth  more  than  70  cents  per  gallon,  for  which  he 
had  charged  $1.50.  This  was  a  portion  of  the  liquor  purchased  by 
Mr.  Bender,  the  apothecary,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Marks.  On 
the  other  hand  Mr.  Marks  denounced  the  whiskey  bought  of  the 
Bisphams  as  "  vile  trash,"  not  fit  for  external  application,  and 
demanded  that  it  be  returned.     This  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Maris, 


246  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

who  also  favored  its  return  as,  he  said,  Mr.  Bispham  could  get  75 
cents  per  gallon  for  it.  As  most  of  the  members  declared  that  they 
were  "no  judges  of  the  article,''  it  was  finally  agreed  that  the  bill 
of  Mr.  Elliott  should  be  paid,  as  the  whiskey  had  been  used  in  the 
institution.  The  Board  refused  to  return  the  whiskey  to  Messrs. 
Bispham  &  Son,  and  the  matter  was  dropped. 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

PATHOIvOGICAL  MUSEUM— STUDENTS  ADMITTED   FREE— BAKE-HOUSE 

ERECTED. 

THE  large  number  of  vagrants  and  drunkards  supported  in 
the  Almshouse  was  a  subject  of  much  concern  to  the 
Board  of  Guardians,  and  which  was  the  best  way  to  abate 
the  nuisance  was  a  question  that  was  continually  under 
discussion.  Mr.  Dickinson  showed  the  opinion  he  entertained 
when  he  offered  a  resolution  on  the  nth  of  October,  1859,  that  a 
committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  confer  with  a  similar  Committee 
of  Councils  and  Prisons,  to  consider  the  initiatory  steps  to  be  taken 
for  the  erection  of  a  House  of  Correction.  Messrs.  Dickinson, 
Robbins  and  Marks  were  appointed. 

A  new  bake-house  had  been  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,932.12,  but 
the  bread  furnished  the  inmates  was  not  entirely  satisfactory  to 
everybody.  Considerable  complaint  was  made  in  some  quarters, 
and  the  press  took  up  the  subject.  An  editorial  appeared  in  the 
Daily  Nezvs  on  Thursday  morning,  October  27th,  1859,  which  read 
as  follows : 

"  God   Help  the  Poor. 

"We  were  shown,  a  few  days  since,  a  sample  of  the  bread 
which  is  now  doled  out  to  the  poor  paupers  of  the  Philadelphia 
Almshouse,  under  the  new  reform  regime  of  Messrs.  Linnard, 
Robbins,  Marks  &  Co.  If  we  kept  a  horse,  we  should  consider 
him  but  moderately  fed  with  the  stuff  which  was  cut  from  one  of 
the  loaves  in  the  storehouse  of  this  institution,  and  which  now  lies 
on  our  desk. 

"  We  are  impelled  to  the  belief  that  the  men  who  will  so  far 
forget  the  purposes  of  their  appointment,  would  be  well  placed  by 
changing  positions  with  those  over  whom  they  have  been  appointed 
as  Guardians. 

"  The  history  of  this  institution,  as  far  as  we  can  discern, 
never  before  presented  so  deplorable  and  humiliating  a  spectacle  as 

247 


248  History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

at  this  moment.  There  are  paupers  there,  and  little  children,  as 
we  are  informed,  absolutely  clamorous  for  bread,  that  which  is  pro- 
vided for  them,  as  before  suggested,  being  entirely  unfit  for  use. 
The  appetite  that  could  master  such  diet  must  be  voracious  indeed, 
and  this  is  the  kind  of  bread  they  give  the  sick  and  the  children. 
It  is  made  from  wheat  middlings,  which  the  baker  said  is  purchased 
for  $3.75  per  barrel,  and  is  the  only  kind  of  bread  now  used  in  the 
institution. 

"  But  this  is  not  the  worst  feature  in  the  case ;  even  with  such 
diet  furnished  them,  the  quantity  has  been  reduced  to  the  starva- 
tion point  by  orders  of  the  Committee  on  Ecojioniy  ;  and  the  matron 
of  the  Children's  Asylum  was  found  in  tears  a  few  days  ago  because 
she  could  not  supply  the  wants  of  those  committed  to  her  care 
without  disobeying  orders  and  subjecting  herself  to  the  possibility 
of  a  loss  of  her  situation. 

"  We  are  informed  by  a  visitor  that  the  old,  infirm  and  sick 
who  have  friends  visiting  them  and  leaving  their  little  contribu- 
tions of  money  to  purchase  necessaries  that  are  calculated  to  make 
them  more  comfortable,  now  send  out  their  money  to  buy  bread  ! 
Can  this  be  possible  ?  Will  it  be  tolerated  in  the  city  of  Philadel- 
phia ?  Have  the  people  of  this  great  city  the  disposition  to  aid 
three  or  four  men  in  their  efforts  to  show  a  reduction  of  twenty  or 
thirty  thousand  dollars  in  the  public  expenditures  at  the  sacrifice 
of  every  principle  of  humanity  and  the  neglect  of  every  Christian 
duty? 

"  The  new  order  of  things  has  been  established  to  convince 
the  people  that  money  can  be  saved  in  managing  the  Almshouse, 
and  under  the  operation  of  this  system  we  have  no  doubt  it  can. 
But  there  is  something  more  intrinsic  than  the  money  it  costs. 
Complaints  from  that  institution  come  in  thick  and  fast ;  every- 
thing there  seems  to  be  anarchy  and  confusion,  and  the  present 
majority,  made  up  as  it  is  by  men  who  have  sought  the  sympathy 
and  assistance  of  the  Loco  Foco  party,  seem  to  have  but  a  single 
idea  and  a  single  object,  and  that  is  to  show  at  the  end  of  their 
term  a  saving  of  money, 

"It  is  the  appointment  of  such  narrow,  miserable  men  as  these 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  249 

to  public  office  that  brings  disgrace  upon  the  city,  and  it  is  from 
just  such  men  we  would  expect  starvation.  One  of  the  members 
of  the  Board,  who  as  we  are  informed  is  on  the  Screw  Pi^ess  Commit- 
tee, whilst  curtailing  the  appetites  and  cutting  off  supplies  at  the 
Almshouse,  takes  very  good  care  to  pasture  his  cows  upon  the  public 
grass,  and  it  is,  therefore,  fair  to  suppose  that  he  has  more  sym- 
pathy for  a  dumb  brute  than  for  a  human  being,  provided  that 
brut^  is  a  cow  and  his  own,  and  the  fellow-being  a  pauper. 

''  As  there  is  such  an  extraordinary  disposition  to  economize 
in  the  Board  of  Guardians,  we  suggest  to  members  that  thej^  should 
inquire  into  this  pasture  business  of  Mr.  Linnard.  It  is  a  very 
small  matter,  truly,  but  then  ihis  is  the  day  of  small  things  at  the 
Almshouse,  and  therefore  it  is  a  proper  subject  of  inquiry." 

A  meeting  of  the  committees  to  consider  the  subject  of  a  House 
of  Correction  was  held  at  the  Almshouse  on  December  21,  1859. 

During  the  discussion  of  the  question,  Mr.  Dickinson,  one  of 
the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  stated  that  they  had  recently  put  to  work 
between  80  and  100  men  at  one  of  the  quarries  on  the  Almshouse 
farm,  "  getting  out  stone  "  to  be  used  in  the  construction  of  work 
shops  which  it  is  proposed  to  commence  in  the  coming  spring,  or 
to  be  sold  for  the  benefit  of  the  institution.  The  men  thus  set  to 
work  are  those  who  have  heretofore  idled  their  time  away  in  the 
inside  of  the  hollow  square  of  buildings,  smoking  pipes  and  con- 
versing together. 

"  This  class  comprises  those  who  claim  that  they  '  cannot 
support  themselves  ;  they  would  work  if  they  could  get  it  to  do, 
but  not  being  able  to  obtain  employment,  they  are  forced  to  go  to 
the  Almshouse,  in  preference  to  starving.' 

"  The  Guardians  taking  them  at  their  word,  have  given  them 
work  to  do  in  the  mode  described  and  the  result  is  there  is  a 
decrease  in  the  population  of  the  House  of  nearly  one  hundred, 
compared  with  the  same  time  last  year. 

"  The  lazy  class  who  frequently  winter  at  the  Almshouse,  find- 
ing that  they  will  be  put  to  hard  work  inside,  with  considerable 
personal  restraint,  have  wisely  concluded  to  find  work  outside, 
where  they  have  more  liberty. 


250  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  There  are  still  a  number  of  mechanics,  carpenters,  shoe- 
makers, tailors  and  others,  who,  although  able  to  work  cannot  be 
profitably  employed  at  quarrying  stone,  which  would  disable  them 
so  niucli  that  no  advantage  would  result  from  putting  them  to  work 
at  it.  '  Many  of  tbese  are  usefully  employed  at  repairing  in  the 
House,  and  if  Councils  should  authorize  the  construction-  of  new 
workshops,  there  is  little  doubt  that  all  who  are  able  would  be 
profitably  employed,  and  the  Almshouse  become  in  reality  an  insti- 
tution for  the  relief  and  employment  of  the  poor,  as  specified  in 
tbe  Act  of  incorporatiDU.'  As  a  result  of  the  conference  it  was 
decided  that  the  Departments  of  the  Poor  and  of  Prisons  should 
each  petition  Councils  to  appropriate  sufficient  sums  to  enable  the 
Guardians  to  erect  suitable  workshops  at  the  Almshouse,  and  the 
prison  authorities  to  purchase  more  ground  south,  of  the  prison  and 
to  construct  the  necessary  buildings  for  the  accommodation  of 
prison  uses  and  work  shops. 

"  On  the  3d  of  January,  i860,  Mr.  Dickinson  offered  a  resolu- 
tion that  provided  for  the  '  immediate  removal  of  the  cells  in  the 
vaults  of  the  Lunatic  Asylum.' 

"  Mr.  Dickinson,  in  speaking  in  favor  of  its  adoption,  said : 
*  That  since  learning  of  the  death  of  a  lunatic  in  the  cells  of  that 
department,  the  Committee  had  visited  the  vaults  referred  .to,  and 
to  their  surprise  found  that  there  were  cells  in  them,  and  that 
shortly  before  the  present  Board  assumed  control,  these  cells  were 
used  for  the  confinement  of  prisoners.'  " 

The  resolution  was  agreed  to. 

"  The  subject  of  the  abuses  of  the  out-door  system  of  relief 
was  one  that  caused  considerable  discussion.  It  was  an  evil  that 
was  very  hard  to  eradicate ;  much  could  be  said  on  both  sides,  but 
it  seemed  as  though  the  evils  destroyed  the  good  that  was  intended. 
'  Poor  orders '  were  given  to  persons  having  a  '  pull,'  and  supplies 
were  furnished  to  those  who  were  not  entitled  to  them,  and  were 
amply  able  to  do  without  such  gifts.  There  were  always  frauds  in 
the  world,  and  as  neither  modesty  nor  principle  predominated  in 
their  make  up,  they  frequently  succeeded  in  getting  what  was 
intended  for  more  deserving  people. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  251 

"  The  subject  was  ventilated  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board,  held 
on  January  i6th,  i860,  when  Mr.  Maris  offered  a  resolution  which 
provided  that  a  '  supply  of  bread  should  be  placed  in  the  offices  of 
the  Visitors  of  the  Poor,  to  be  delivered  whenever  practicable,  to 
applicants  for  relief,  in  lieu  of  orders  for  groceries.' 

"  Mr.  Maris,  in  the  course  of  his  remarks  on  the  subject,  said 
that  he  had  given  some  attention  to  this  matter  and  he  was 
satisfied  that  there  was  a  very  great  amount  of  abuse  practiced 
daily. 

"  It  has  been  ascertained  that  not  a  few  of  the  applicants  for 
orders  had  obtained  such  luxuries  as  green  tea,  oranges,  lemons, fruit, 
white  sugar,  and  other  luxurious  articles  on  them,  instead  of  the 
good  solid  necessaries  of  life.  I  have  found  upon  close  examina- 
tion, that  the  list  of  names  of  persons  who  obtained  aid  from  the 
visitors  of  the  poor,  are  recorded  on  many,  if  not  all  of  the  charita- 
ble organizations  of  the  city.  We  have  the  sick,  the  aged,  and  the 
infirm,  whose  every  day  wants  should  be  supplied,  and  on  the 
other  hand  we  have  a  good-for-nothing  set  of  lazy,  idle  loafers,  who 
work  in  the  warm  weather,  and  spend  their  money  in  rum  drink- 
ing, and  then  depend  upon  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  and  other 
charitable  institutions  for  support.  I  am  well  aware  of  these  facts, 
but  am  not  prepared  at  present  to  take  final  action.  The  subject 
will  certainl}^  have  my  earliest  consideration,  and  I  hope  that  of 
the  members  of  the  Board  also. 

"  By  cutting  off  the  lazy,  improvident  set  of  rum-drinking 
loafers,  we  would  have  a  better  opportunity  of  giving  to  the  deserv- 
ing poor,  of  which  we  have  many  in  our  midst." 

Mr.  Linnard  desired  to  corroborate  what  Mr.  Maris  had  said, 
and  after  some  further  debate,  the  matter  was  "  withdrawn  for  the 
present." 

The  Committee  on  Manufactures  reported  on  January  30th, 
i860,  that  Councils  had  appropriated  $5,000  to  construct  a  work- 
shop ;  the  Committee  was  instructed  to  proceed  with  its  erection 
on  the  plans  adopted. 

Another  subject  that  claimed  considerable  attention  at  this 
period,  in  the  community  at  large,  as  well  as  in  the  Board,  was  the 


252  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

report,  frequently  repeated,  of  the  robbing  of  the  graveyard  of  the 
bodies  deposited  there. 

The  ferryman,  who  had  charge  of  this  part  of  the  institution^ 
appeared  to  have  been  a  man  of  very  low  character,  and  several 
attempts  were  made  to  dispense  with  him ;  but  he  seems  to  bave 
had  enough  influence  to  retain  his  position. 

One  of  the  papers  of  that  time  contained  the  following  edito- 
rial, which  shows  some  of  the  feeling  that  existed  regarding  this 
matter : 

^'  Modern  Body-Snatching. 

"  In  the  personnel  of  the  Almshouse  are  two  officers  between 
whom  there  exists  an  irreconcilable  antagonism.  The  one  is  the 
estimable  Mr.  Linnard,  of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and  the  other 
is  a  genius  who  occupies  a  position  whose  incumbent  is  termed  the 
"  ferryman."  Mr.  Linnard  is  in  some  respects  a  queer  fish,  while 
the  ferryman  is  an  equally  queer  fish  in  other  points  of  view.  Mr. 
Linnard  bears  a  strong  likeness  to  many  of  the  portraits  of  George 
Washington,  and  being  a  hard-shell  Baptist  deacon,  wears  a  volum- 
inous white  neckcloth,  with  fastenings  hid  from  human  vision,  and 
supposed  to  be  lying  perdu  somewhere  about  the  spinal  column. 
The  ferryman  isn't  particular  as  to  what  he  wears,  and  in  personal 
appearance  is  suggestive  of  a  cross  between  George  Munday  and  a 
ghoul.  The  duties  of  the  ferryman,  now  that  the  ferry  is  abol- 
ished, are  to  supervise  the  engine  by  which  water  is  pumped  into 
the  buildings,  to  take  charge  of  the  banks  of  the  river,  to  boss  the 
paupers  in  the  quarry  and  to  attend  to  the  duties  of  the  graveyard. 
The  latter  is  an  institution  of  which  few  people  except  medical 
students  and  professors  have  any  knowledge.  Medical  students 
during  the  winter  season  are  charged  from  ten  to  fifteen  dollars  for 
each  human  subject  for  the  dissecting  tables,  and  a  brisk  business 
is  done  during  the  terms  of  the  college  lectures  in  the  corpses  of 
those  who  die  at  the  Almshouse  and  whose  bodies  are  not  claimed 
by  friends.  Of  revenue  to  the  city  not  a  single  cent  inures  by  the 
sale  of  these  bodies  ;  and  as  the  ferryman  has  the  sole  control  of 
the  matter,  the  inference  that  the  ferryman's  position  is  a  paying 
one  is  certainly  admissable. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


o.-.p. 


"  A  spicy  debate  occurred  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Guardians  from  this  especial  cause.  Mr.  Linnard,  in  the  sincerity 
of  his  purposes,  objects  to  this  traffic  in  human  corpses,  and  espec- 
ially when  the  proceeds  do  not  inure  to  the  benefit  of  the  city. 
He  is  plain  and  blunt  in  his  address,  is  Mr.  Linnard,  and  signifi- 
cantly said  that  he  preferred  to  see  bodies  openly  carried  away  from 
the  graveyards  by  medical  students,  to  seeing  the  pockets  of  the 
Superintendent  surreptitiously  lined  by  the  auriferous  traffic. 
Mr.  Linnard's  resolution  to  abolisb  the  office  of  Superintendent  of 
the  Graveyard  failed  only  by  a  tie  vote.  If  renewed  at  some  future 
time  it  will  be  likely  to  carry,  for  some  of  the  members  who  voted 
in  the  negative  voted  under  a  misapprehension  of  the  case. 

"  We  are  not  the  foe  of  science.  For  this  reason  we  cannot 
oppose  the  relinquishment  to  the  medical  colleges  of  the  bodies  of 
those  who  die  at  the  public  charge,  without  friends  whose  feelings 
might  be  lacerated  by  the  circumstances. 

"  But  it  is  right  and  proper  that  whatever  revenue  accrues 
from  this  source  should  be  paid  into  the  treasury  of  the  Board,  to 
aid  in  defraying  the  heavy  expenses  for  the  support  of  an  army  of 
paupers,  and  of  whom  three-fourths  are  of  foreign  birth.  If  Mr. 
Linnard  with  his  characteristic  pertinacity  in  whatever  he  believes 
to  be  right,  should  still  adhere  to  his  movement,  we  think  he  will 
accomplish  it,  and  that  the  wisdom  of  his  policy  will  be  vindicated 
by  the  removal  of  the  present  ferryman,  and  the  abolition  of  mod- 
ern body  snatching  as  practiced  at  the  Almshouse." 

A  singular  circumstance  occurred  in  July,  i860.  It  seems  that 
certain  parties  made  a  bet,  over  which  a  dispute  arose.  The 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  entered  suit  to  recover  the  amount  of  money 
involved  in  the  bet,  and  obtained  a  judgment  of  $800  against  each 
of  the  wagers.  A  communication  was  received  from  the  City 
Solicitor  enclosing  one  from  Thomas  Greenbank,  attorney,  offering 
as  a  compromise  for  both  suits  the  sum  of  $1,000.  The  City  Solic- 
itor advised  the  settlement,  and  the  Board  followed  his  advice. 

At  the  meeting  on  the  i6th  of  August,  i860,  Mr.  Dickinson 
offered  the  following : 

"  Whereas,  The  buildings  at  present  appropriated  to  the  use  of 


254  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

the  Insane  Department  of  the  Almshouse  are  overcrowded  and  im- 
properly arranged  for  the  judicious  classification  and  proper  treat- 
ment of  the  patients,  tlius  thwarting,  in  a  great  measure,  the  efforts 
of  the  Board  of  Guardians  to  place  those  under  their  care  in  the 
best  possible  condition  by  the  influence  of  properly  applied  disci- 
plinary and  medical  treatment,  to  insure  their  restoration  to  reason^ 
and  to  relieve  the  public  of  the  burden  of  their  support ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  The  number  of  admissions  in  this  department  is 
steadily  increasing,  and  thus  constantly  adding  to  the  existing 
difficulties  and  demanding  the  serious  consideration  of  this  Board ; 
therefore,  be  it 

^'^  Resolved^  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  examine 
the  buildings  at  present  appropriated  to  the  use  of  the  epileptic, 
idiotic  and  insane  patients  of  the  Almshouse ;  also  the  buildings 
occupied  as  general  hospital ;  and  to  report  for  the  consideration 
of  this  Board  plans  for  rearranging  and  altering  or  extending  the 
same,  in  order  that  the  patients  therein  may  be  better  accommo- 
dated, and  such  other  matters  appertaining  thereto  as  they  may 
deem  of  interest." 

This  called  forth  a  lengthy  discussion,  during  which  Mr. 
Maris,  who  was  elected  President  upon  the  death  of  Mr.  Keyser  in 
February,  stated  that  he  thought  the  inquiry  of  the  Committee 
should  be  extended  so  as  to  consider  whether  a  House  of  Correc- 
tion could  not  be  erected  on  the  Almshouse  grounds.  He  said 
"  that  in  five  or  six  years  the  insane  department  would  be  entirely 
overcrowded.  At  present  there  are  450  inmates,  and  in  a  year  or 
two  there  would  doubtless  be  550,  which  would  be  beyond  the 
limits  of  the  present  buildings  to  accommodate.  It  has  been  sug- 
gested by  old  members  of  the  Board,  that,  by  making  certain 
changes  in  the  buildings,  a  portion  of  the  premises  might  be  used 
for  a  House  of  Correction,  which  would  save  $150,000  to  the  City." 

The  resolutions  were  adopted  and  Messrs.  Dickinson,  Server, 
Krety,  Brown  and  the  President  were  appointed. 

The  following  was  presented  at  the  meeting  on  September 
24th,  i860: 

"  Gentlemeji. — The   Committee  on    Hospital  and  Insane  De- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  255 

partments,  to  which  was  referred  the  communication  of  the  Medical 
Board  suggesting  the  propriety  of  establishing  a  museum  for  the 
preservation  of  pathological  and  other  specimens  to  aid  in  the  in- 
vestigation of  diseases,  respectfully  report :  That  they  have  given 
the  subject  much  thought,  and  are  of  opinion  that  a  museum  of  the 
kind  contemplated  would  be  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  Hospital  and  Almshouse,  and  can  be  collected 
and  arranged  at  a  comparatively  trifling  expense  to  the  institution." 

Respectfully, 

M.  H.  Dickinson, 

J.    M.    LiNNARD. 

The  Committee  was  authorized  to  make  the  necessary  arrange- 
ments for  establishing  a  museum ;  provided  the  expense  would  not 
exceed  at  any  time  the  appropriation  for  that  purpose. 

At  this  same  meeting  it  was  decided  "  that  hereafter  the  stu- 
dents attending  the  Medical  Colleges,  would  be  allowed  to  visit  the 
hospital  free  of  charge,  and  not  be  compelled  to  purchase  tickets  of 
admission,  as  they  had  previously  been  compelled  to  do." 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

HOUSE  AGENT  DISMISSED— WORKSHOPS  AND  RECEIVING  VAULT 

ERECTED. 


M 


R.  DICKINSON,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Manu- 
factures reported,  "  That  they  had  erected  upon  the  site 
of  the  old  wooden  workshop,  a  substantial  stone  build- 
ing 1 60  feet  long,  50  feet  wide  and  two  stories  high. 
The  lower  story  of  the  building  will  be  appropriated  to  the  use  of 
the  carpenters,  wheelwrights  and  the  fire  apparatus  belonging  to 
the  institution.  The  second-story  will  be  occupied  by  the  shoe- 
makers, tailors  and  weavers,  the  Superintendent  of  Manufactures, 
and  storeroom  for  the  use  of  that  department.  The  building 
formerly  occupied  by  the  weavers  has  been  converted  into  a  black- 
smith shop,  with  the  necessary  furnaces  and  forges  for  doing  all 
the  work  appertaining  to  this  branch  of  industry. 

"  The  entire  cost  of  the  building,  exclusive  of  the  material  ob- 
tained from  the  quarry  and  sand  banks  on  the  premises,  the  greater 
portion  ot  the  labor  having  been  performed  by  the  inmates  of  the 
Almshouse,  was  $4,348.16." 

The  erection  of  this  building  gave  great  satisfaction,  and  as  a 
proof  that  the  work  was  well  done  one  need  only  look  at  it  at  the 
present  time,  as  it  is  still  in  use  for  the  purposes  for  which  it  was 
erected. 

In  connection  with  this  subject  one  of  the  papers  of  that  date 
said  :  "  Heretofore,  the  Almshouse  was  a  sort  of  caravansera  for 
able  bodied  but  lazy  men  and  women.  Under  the  old  Board,  espe- 
cially, stout  and  hearty  loafers  found  comfortable  quarters  at  the 
public  expense,  their  only  service  in  return,  being  performed  at  the 
polls  when  this  political  vagabond  or  that  desired  preferment. 
Under  the  present  regime^  with  the  prospect  of  work  before  them, 
this  class  have  kept  aloof  and  it  is  to  be  presumed  that,  with  the 
successful  prosecution  of  the  manufacturing  system  there,  the 
House  will  become  what  it  was  intended  to  be — a  refuge  for 
the  suffering  and  deserving  poor. 
266 


History  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and   Hospitals.  257 

"  With  the  details  of  the  Committee's  plans  for  the  future  we 
have  not  as  yet  been  made  acquainted,  though  it  is  stated  that  car- 
penters, cabinet  makers,  turners,  wheelwrights,  coopers,  painters, 
tin  and  sheet-iron  workers,  shoemakers,  tailors  and  weavers  are  to 
be  kept  steadily  employed.  It  is  presumed,  however,  that  they  will 
be  compensated,  as  they  should  be,  for  their  labor,  over  and  above 
what  it  costs  to  maintain  them.  Such  a  policy  would  be  a  just  and 
encouraging  one.  It  would  conduce  to  greater  industry  and.  inure 
to  the  benefit  of  the  city  as  well  as  to  the  paupers  themselves. 
Many  of  the  latter  are  illy  fitted  for  life's  struggles  in  the  broad 
world,  and,  unrestrained,  are  of  no  service  to  society  or  themselves. 
Such,  by  an  encouraging  system  of  compensation,  could  be  induced 
to  remain  where  temptations  do  not  beset  them  and  where  they 
may  be  enabled  to  lay  by  something  for  future  years  of  effort.  At 
any  rate,  they  should  be  paid  for  the  labor  they  render  beyond  the 
actual  cost  of  their  support  and  management. 

"  To  the  operations  of  this  workshop  we  look  with  more  than 
ordinary  hopefulness.  It  will,  if  properly  directed,  lead  to  what  is 
generally  desired — in  the  establishment  of  a  more  extensive  House 
of  Employment  for  petty  offenders  of  all  grades. 

"  The  necessity  of  an  institution  of  the  kind  is  universally 
admitted,  not  alone  as  a  matter  of  mere  monetary  economy,  but  as 
a  conservator  of  the  peace  and  morals  of  the  community.  There 
are  thousands  of  instances  occurring  every  year  which  demonstrate 
the  policy  of  an  early  and  earnest  movement  in  that  direction  ;  and 
arguments  in  its  favor  have  been  and  are  presented  weekly  and 
daily,  either  by  grand  juries,  the  proceedings  of  our  courts,  the 
records  of  our  prisons  or  the  hearings  before  the  police  magistrates. 

"  Petty  offenders  are  not  necessarily  criminals  as  the  term  is 
generally  applied.  They  are  not  as  a  general  thing  wilful  in  their 
acts.  Idleness  and  vagrant  habits  have  far  more  to  do  with  their 
offenses  than  their  moral  status ;  and  with  class  employment  and 
restraint — not  in  prisons,  but  in  Almshouses — can  effect  much  in 
the  way  of  reform.  A  helping  hand  and  cheering  words  do  more 
in  raising  the  fallen  than  the  felon's  brand  or  the  common  curse ; 
and  the  sooner  society  is  made  to  understand  and  act  upon  this 
17 


258  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

truth,  the  greater  will  be  the  safeguards  around  both  person  and 
property." 

An  editorial  in  another  paper  at  that  time  brought  a  phase  of 
one  of  the  abuses  of  outdoor  relief  into  view  in  commenting  upon 
the  action  of  the  Board  in  adopting  a  resolution  to  check  the 
fraud.     The  article  said  : 

"A  Needed  Regulation. 

"At  the  last  meeting  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  at  the  in- 
stance of  Mr.  Dickinson,  a  resolution  was  adopted,  by  which  the 
coal  contractors  are  required  to  take  receipts  for  all  the  fuel  they 
deliver,  and  present  such  receipts  as  vouchers  for  their  bills.  In 
former  times  there  were  many  irregularities,  to  use  no  harsher 
term,  in  the  delivery  of  fuel  to  the  suffering  poor.  In  many  in- 
stances, well-to-do  favorites  of  the  Buzzards  were  supplied  with 
winter  warmth  from  the  public  bin,  and  in  others  charges  were 
frequently  made  where  no  deliveries  had  taken  place.  Of  course, 
there  was  no  remedy.  Under  this  resolution,  however,  it  will  be 
easy  to  ascertain  who  receives  the  fuel  and  in  what  quantities  ;  and 
should  false  charges  be  made,  forgery  will  be  added  to  dishonesty. 
The  offenders  can,  therefore,  be  readily  reached." 

It  looks  strange  to  see  in  a  minute  book  a  record  "  that  Mr. 
Williams  presented  a  communication  from  the  nurses  and  others 
in  the  Almshouse,  asking  if  some  means  could  not  be  devised  by 
which  they  could  get  their  pa}^  for  the  last  four  months,  not  hav- 
ing even  received  warrants,  which  they  would  be  willing  to  sell  at 
a  discount," 

Good  service  could  hardly  be  expected  under  such  circum- 
stances, and  there  was  mismanagement  somewhere,  when  em- 
ployees were  treated  in  that  manner. 

Councils,  acting  under  the  advice  of  the  Board  of  Health, 
directed  that  the  Small  Pox  Hospital  should  be  closed  after  ist  of 
April,  1 86 1. 

The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  notified  the  Board  of  Health  that 
"  in  future  no  more  small  pox  patients  will  be  received  by  this 
Board  on  the  Almshouse  grounds." 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  2o9 

A  communication  was  received  from  the  Board  of  Health  in 
reply  to  the  notice,  saying  that  the  same  was  unbecom.ing-  and  out 
of  place  for  a  department  that  provides  for  the  pauper  popula- 
tion, etc. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Marks,  ''  this  very  becoming  communication" 
was  laid  on  the  table  by  the  Guardians. 

Messrs.  George  Williams  and  James  Marks  tendered  their 
resignations  as  members  of  the  Board  on  March  nth,  1861.  They 
were  accepted. 

The  Visitors  reported  that  they  had  relieved  9,453  persons  at 
a  cost  of  $4,178.83.  The  nativity  of  those  relieved  was  :  335  Ger- 
mans, 1,606  Irish,  147  English,  5  Welsh,  32  Scotch,  2  Italians,  13 
French,  645  Philadelphians,  421  Pennsylvanians,  and  600  from 
other  parts  of  the  United  States. 

The  House  Committee  reported  the  average  population  of  the 
House  for  the  last  quarter  to  be  an  increase  of  235  over  the  same 
period  of  the  previous  year.  The  population  on  March  6th 
was  2,745  ;  same  time  of  previous  year  it   was   2,386,  an    increase 

of  359- 

This  was  just  previous  to  the   commencement  of  the  war  of 

the  rebellion.  There  were  large  numbers  of  worthy  people  thrown 
out  of  employment,  and  thousands  of  families  suffered  for  the 
necessaries  of  life.  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  were  kept  busily 
engaged  in  the  distribution  of  out-door  relief.  All  of  the  charit- 
able organizations  were  also  doing  the  same  kind  of  work.  All 
kinds  of  calls  for  contributions  were  issued,  and  it  was  stated  that 
"  There  never  was  a  greater  need  of  aid  than  now,  nor  objects  more 
deserving  of  Christian  charity." 

Mr.  Mahlon  H.  Dickinson  tendered  his  resignation  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Board.  Mr.  Linnard  said  he  hoped  an  inducement 
would  be  held  out  to  Mr.  Dickinson,  in  order  that  the  Board  might 
not  lose  so  industrious  a  member.  Mr.  Brown  spoke  in  very  high 
terms  of  the  energy,  zeal  and  experience  of  Mr.  Dickinson.  He 
regretted  that  the  resignation  had  been  sent  in. 

It  was  generally  acknowledged  that  Mr.  Dickinson  was  one  of 
the  most  valuable  members  of  the  Board,  and  so,  without  doubt,  he 


260  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

was.     After  much  persuasion  the  resignation  was  withdrawn,  and 
Mr.  Dickinson  rendered  good  service  for  several  years  after. 

A  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Erety  to  establish  an  asylum  for 
foundlings  brought  out  a  lengthy  discussion.  The  President 
stated  "that  the  deaths  of  foundlings  in  the  House  were  95  out 
of  100.  The  cause  of  this  mortality  was  owing  to  the  foul  air 
in  the  wards.  The  deficiency  of  food  was  also  another  cause.  A 
mortality  of  95  per  cent,  is  awful ;  there  is  a  great  necessity  for 
doing  something.  At  present  the  little  children  do  not  get 
enough  to  eat !  This  statement  is  alarming  but  true.  A  number 
of  women  could  be  obtained,  anxious  to  nurse  the  children.  I 
favor  the  establishment  of  a  separate  ward  for  the  foundlings.  If 
that  will  not  decrease  the  mortality  list,  something  else  must  be 
done." 

Mr.  Brown  was  inclined  to  think  that  the  deaths  were  not  so 
many  as  stated.  During  a  late  visit,  he  said,  the  children  pre- 
sented a  healthy  appearance.  He  was  not  opposed  to  any  means  by 
which  the  condition  of  the  children  could  be  ameliorated.  He  also 
stated  that  two  children  had  been  taken  from  the  House  and  con- 
fided to  the  care  of  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  at  Tacony. 

Mr.  Erety  eulogized  the  Sisters  of  Mercy  for  thus  coming 
forward  in  the  discharge  of  a  high  and  meritorious  calling.  He 
was  willing  that  this  fact  should  be  known.  For  the  Christian 
charity  which  they  manifested  let  them  have  credit.  Is  there  any 
other  denomination  who  would  come  forward  in  the  same  Christian 
spirit  ? 

Mr.  Cresson  said  "  other  denominations  take  care  of  old  people. 
This  denomination  has  an  object  in  taking  little  ones.  I  am 
opposed  to  giving  the  children  to  any  such  people." 

Mr.  McGrath  defended  the  Sisters  from  the  imputations  sought 
to  be  cast  upon  them  by  the  language  of  the  previous  speaker. 
The  denomination  to  which  they  belong  are  always  anxious  to  do 
the  best  in  their  power  for  young  and  old.  He  alluded  to  the 
proselyting  attempts  of  the  Beggar  detectives,  by  which  young 
children  were  stolen  away  and  taught  to  forget  the  faith  of  their 
parents. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  261 

The  matter  was  finally  referred  to  the  Hospital  and  Children's 
Committee. 

On  the  22d  of  April,  1861,  the  House  Agent  was  dismissed  for 
"  Applying  public  money  belonging  to  the  City,  that  has  come  into 
his  hands  as  an  officer  of  this  Board,  to  his  own  private  use,  con- 
trary to  Law,"  and  his  accounts  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
City  Solicitor  for  "  such  action  as  he  ma}^  deem  proper  to  take.'' 

Several  attempts  had  been  made  to  have  an  Act  passed  to  au- 
thorize the  sale  of  some  of  the  Almshouse  property.  Different 
reasons  were  advanced  as  to  why  this  should  be  done,  the  principal 
one  being  that  it  would  furnish  the  means  to  build  a  House  of  Cor- 
rection. Whatever  the  reasons  were,  the  interested  parties  suc- 
ceeded in  having  an  Act  passed  and  approved.  May  ist,  1861,  just 
as  the  rebellion  broke  out,  when  the  public  mind  was  so  absorbed 
that  no  notice  was  taken  of  this  legislation.  After  events  clearly 
show  that  the  erection  of  a  House  of  Correction  had  but  little  place 
in  the  minds  of  those  who  had  the  Act  passed.  This  important 
Act  reads  as  follows  : 

"Section  i. — Be  it  enacted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of 
Representatives  of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania  in  General 
Assembly  met,  and  it  is  hereby  enacted  by  the  authority  of  the 
same.  That  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  is  hereby  empowered  to  make 
private  or  public  sale,  and  convey  in  fee  simple  or  reserving  ground 
rents,  the  present  Almshouse  grounds,  or  any  part  thereof,  situate 
in  the  twenty-seventh  ward  of  the  city,  containing  one  hundred 
and  eighty-seven  acres,  more  or  less,  and  the  buildings  thereon 
erected,  subject  to  the  following  conditions  : 

"  I.  That  the  City  of  Philadelphia  shall  reserve  a  part  of  said 
ground,  not  exceeding  forty  acres,  to  be  laid  out  and  maintained  as 
an  open  public  place  forever,  for  the  health  and  recreation  of  the 
people. 

"  2.  That  the  said  City  shall  also  reserve  at  Pine  and  South 
Streets,  on  the  river  Schuylkill,  pieces  of  ground  sufficient,  in  the 
opinion  of  the  Chief  Engineer  and  Surveyor  of  said  city,  for  abut- 
ments and  approaches  thereto,  for  a  bridge  or  bridges,  which  may 
be  lawfully  authorized  to  be  erected  at  either  of  said  streets. 


262  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"Section  2. — That  the  City  of  Philadelphia  is  hereby  au- 
thorized to  purchase  land  and  erect  thereon  an  Almshouse  or  Poor 
House  (with  or  without  a  house  of  correction  and  employment,  as 
may  be  deemed  expedient) ,  and  in  payment  thereof  to  create  a  loan 
which  shall  be  exempt  from  State  tax. 

"  Section  3. — That  the  proceeds  arising  from  the  sale  of 
grounds  and  buildings  specified  in  the  ist  Section  of  this  Act  shall 
be  specificially  applied  to  and  pledged  for  the  purpose  of  payment 
of  the  loan  authorized  by  the  Second  Section  of  this  Act ;  and  if 
ground  rents  shall  be  reserved,  or  mortgages  taken  in  payment, 
the  same,  when  sold  or  paid  off,  shall  be  applied  to  and  for  the 
same  purpose." 

The  firing  upon  the  American  flag  at  Fort  Sumter  fired  the 
blood  of  the  people  of  the  North,  and  men  from  all  the  walks  of  life 
volunteered  by  the  thousands.  All  kinds  of  encouragement  was 
given  by  employers  to  their  workmen  w^ho  desired  to  enlist ; 
promises  of  assistance  to  the  families  of  those  who  went  to  the 
field  were  freely  given,  and  every  inducement  was  held  out  to  get 
volunteers  for  the  Army  and  Navy.  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor 
were  not  behind  in  that  line,  as  the  records  show  that  Mr.  McGrath 
offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted : 

"  Resolved^  That  the  place  of  any  officer  connected  with  this 
Board,  who  may  enlist  in  the  service  of  his  country,  in  defence  of 
the  national  flag,  shall  not  be  vacated,  and  the  salary  of  such  officer 
shall  be  continued  and  paid  as  usual  during  the  absence  of  such 
officer." 

At  the  meeting  held  on  the  13th  of  August,  1861,  Mr. 
Dickinson  offered  a  resolution  "  that  the  Committee  on  Hospital 
be  instructed  to  inquire  into  the  expediency  of  employing  the  serv- 
ices of  Homeopathic  physicians  for  such  persons  as  require  out- 
door relief,  that  may  desire  that  kind  of  medical  treatment." 

Mr.  Server  was  opposed  to  having  two  kinds  or  classes  of  phy- 
sicians employed. 

Mr.  Ivinnard  thought  the  majority  of  out-door  cases  would 
prefer  the  Homeopathic  treatment.  If  this  resolution  would  pass, 
it  would  be  a  preparatory  step  to  test  the  merits   of  both   kinds  of 


History  of  Philadelphia  Aliushoiises  and  Hospitals.  263 

treatment.     He  advocated  the  Homeopathic  system,  if  for  no  other 
reason  than  that  it  would  be  less  expensive  to  the  Board. 

Mr.  Brown  said  he  would  be  glad  to  see  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  Almshouse  equally  divided  between  the  Allopathists 
and  the  Homeopathists.  There  was  no  good  reason  why  it  should 
not  be  so.  In  other  countries  such  a  system  prevails,  and  works 
admirably. 

Mr.  Server  replied,  "  Introduce  such  a  system  and  we  will 
have  endless  discussions,  quarrels  and  bickerings.  Why  not  allow, 
also,  the  Botanic  and  Eclectic  systems  to  be  introduced?" 

Mr.  Linnard  said,  "  Give  them  all  a  chance.  If  science,  in  its 
onward  march,  revolutionizes  long  established  systems,  it  is  gen- 
erally for  the  better,  and  we  should  not  be  resisting  the  tide  of 
progress.  The  old  physicians  would,  a  few  years  ago,  drug  a 
patient  with  doses,  the  quarter  of  which  they  would  not  dare  to  ad- 
minister to-day.  Homeopathy  has  opened  the  eyes  of  the  old 
practitioners,  and  the  results  are  every  day  seen.  I  have  all  my  life 
been  under  Allopathic  treatment  until  recently. 

The  President  said,  "  The  gentleman  has  certainly  attained  a 
good  old  age  under  that  treatment." 

Mr.  Whitall  said  it  was  unnecessary  to  send  the  matter  to  the 
Hospital  Committee,  for  they  would  negative  it.  For  myself,  he 
said,  "  I  would  not  give  Homeopathic  treatment  to  a  sick  dog." 

The  resolution  was  amended  so  as  to  refer  the  subject  to  a 
Special  Committee,  and  was  then  adopted.  Messrs.  Dickinson, 
Erety  and  Taylor  were  appointed  as  the  Committee.  At  the  next 
meeting  of  the  Board  two  reports  were  made.  Messrs.  Erety  and 
Taylor  declared  it  was  inexpedient  at  this  time,  and  asked  to  be 
discharged  from  the  further  consideration  of  the  subject. 

Mr.  Dickinson  presented  a  minority  report,  saying  that  "  many 
of  the  poor  will  need  such  treatment,  as  they  would  rather  be 
treated  in  the  manner  in  which  they  have  most  faith."  A  reso- 
lution attached  to  the  minority  report  provided  for  the  election  of 
four  homeopathists. 

The  majority  report  was  adopted.  One  of  the  newspapers  of 
that  period  said  in  an  editorial  article  : 


264  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  The  Guardians  of  the  Poor  have  decided  that  if  the  out-door 
recipients  of  the  charity  of  our  city  don't  choose  to  swallow  the 
medicines  administered  by  the  allopathic  physicians,  they  may 
remain  sick.  An  application  to  permit  the  administration  of  home- 
opathic remedies,  where  the  patient  prefers  that  treatment,  was 
voted  down.  This  decision  is  not  at  all  creditable  to  the  intelli- 
gence or  liberality  of  the  Board." 

Again,  the  scandals  of  "  graveyard  robberies  "  had  become  so 
clamorous  that  some  notice  had  to  be  taken  of  them.  Mr.  Server 
offered  a  resolution  making  it  "  imperative  on  the  Farm  Committee 
to  allow  no  persons  to  enter  the  grounds  unless  having  a  properly 
authenticated  permit,  setting  forth  their  business." 

Mr.  Dickinson  offered  a  substitute,  as  follows  : 

"  Whereas,  It  is  manifestly  the  duty  of  this  Board  to  secure 
to  the  unfortunate  persons  who  die  in  the  Almshouse  the  rites  of 
Christian  burial,  and  to  extend  to  their  remains  after  interment  the 
same  care  and  protection  as  is  given  to  those  who  have  friends  and 
relatives  to  watch  over  and  guard  their  last  resting  places  ;  and, 

Whereas,  From  the  isolated  position  of  the  unguarded  grave- 
yard attached  to  the  Almshouse,  there  is  no  security  against  the 
disinterment  of  the  bodies  deposited  therein  ;  be  it  therefore 

"  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Farm  and  Garden  be  in- 
structed to  select  a  site  suitable  for  the  purpose  and  estimate  the 
cost  of  erecting  thereon  a  safe  and  substantial  receiving  vault 
wherein  to  deposit  and  keep  the  remains  of  those  who  die  in  the 
Almshouse,  until  removed  by  their  friends  or  their  graves  rendered 
secure  from  violation  by  reason  of  the  partial  decomposition  of  their 
bodies."     This  was  agreed  to. 

On  September  19th,  1861,  the  new  Clinic  Room,  erected  in  the 
rear  of  the  Drug  Store,  at  a  cost  of  $2,765.05,  was  formally  inaug- 
urated. Dr.  J.  Iv.  Ludlow  delivered  an  able  address  on  the  occa- 
sion. The  old  clinic  room,  in  the  Insane  Department,  was  floored 
over  and  divided  into  doctors'  offices,  lecture  room,  etc. 


CHAPTER   XXIV. 

INSANE    CONVICTS    RETURNED    FROM  STATE    HOSPITALS— STEAM 
HEATING  INTRODUCED. 

CONSIDERABLE  anxiety  was  caused  in  the  latter  part  of 
the  year  1861,  by  the  return  to  the  County  Prison  of  the 
insane  prisoners  sent  from  that  institution  to  the  State 
Insane  Asylum  at  Harrisburg.  Under  the  act  which 
established  the  State  Asylum  the  several  counties  were  authorized 
to  send  to  that  institution  such  criminals  as  were  declared  insane. 
A  subsequent  act  changed  the  system  and  it  was  made  a  curative 
establishment,  the  of&cials  being  authorized  to  send  back  to  the 
counties  such  persons  as  might  be  declared  incurable.  Six  of  those 
sent  from  Philadelphia  were  returned  to  the  County  Prison  in  No- 
vember, and  the  lack  of  accommodations  in  that  institution  com- 
pelled the  of&cials  to  request  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  to  receive 
them  in  the  Almshouse. 

The  names  of  those  returned  were  Ephraim  Gear,  Louis 
Durow,  John  Jennings,  John  Logue,  George  Auble  and  Jane 
Glazier. 

Gear,  who  was  an  old  man,  made  an  attempt  to  shoot  Jonas  P. 
Fairlamb  as  he  was  stepping  from  the  door  of  the  Court  of  Quar- 
ter Sessions  into  the  grounds  of  Independence  Square,  about  nine 
years  previous.  The  Court  was  in  session  at  the  time,  and  the 
occurrence  caused  much  excitement.  Gear  was  immediately  ar- 
rested and  the  Judge  committed  him  for  trial.  He  was  acquitted 
on  the  ground  of  insanit}-,  but  was  confined  in  the  county  prison 
about  two  years ;  after  which  he  was  kept  in  the  State  iVsylum 
seven  years. 

Durow  was  a  Prussian,  who   had  been   transferred  from  the 

debtor's  apartment   to  the  county  prison  several  years  before,  for 

attempting  to  cut  the  throat  of  one  of  the  inmates.     While  in  the 

prison  he  made  several  attempts  to  murder  persons  before  he  was 

sent  to  the  Asylum,  where  he  spent  several  years. 

265 


266  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

John  Jennings  was  an  old  man,  and  but  little  was  known  of 
him  at  the  prison.     He  spent  a  number  of  years  in  the  Asylum. 

Jobn  Logue  was  a  notable  character.  He  was  known  as  the 
"  Man  with  the  Military  Walk,"  He  would  disappear  at  times  ; 
then  appear  on  the  main  streets  with  high-top  boots  and  buckskin 
gloves,  and  strut  along  in  true  military  style.  For  a  time  he  was 
simply  amusing,  but  finally  he  became  troublesome  and  was 
arrested  for  assault  and  battery.  He  was  pronounced  insane  and 
sent  to  the  Asylum. 

Auble  was  a  German,  forty  years  old,  who  killed  an  inmate  of 
his  cell  by  hitting  him  with  an  iron  plate.  He  was  acquitted  on 
the  ground  of  insanity,  and  the  Court  committed  him  to  the 
Asylum. 

Jane  Glazier  had  been  a  resident  of  Kensington.  She  had 
been  arrested  on  suspicion  of  killing  her  husband  and  became 
insane  in  consequence  of  it.  She  spent  several  years  in  the  State 
Insane  xAs3/lum. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  Mr.  Hrety  offered 
the  following : 

''''Resolved^  That  -a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  examine 
and  report  on  the  probable  number  of  insane,  epileptic  and  idiotic 
patients  it  will  be  necessary  to  provide  for  in  the  Insane  depart- 
ment of  the  Almshouse,  in  contemplation  of  the  insane  patients 
from  Philadelphia  now  in  the  State  Hospital  at  Harrisburg  being 
returned  to  Philadelphia,  and  together  with  the  insane  now  in  the 
Philadelphia  County  Prison,  being  thrown  for  support  and  mainte- 
nance on  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor," 

The  resolution  was  adopted,  and  Messrs.  Erety,  McGrath  and 
Server  were  appointed  as  the  committee. 

Mr.  Dickinson  discovered  that  the  Resident  Physicians  were 
in  the  habit  of  punishing  the  patients  under  their  charge  by  the 
use  of  a  shower-bath  and  otherwise.  He  offered  a  resolution  to 
prevent  it.  Mr.  Server  offered  an  amendment,  striking  out  all 
after  the  word  ''''Resolved^''  and  inserting  "  That  no  authority  has 
been  delegated  by  the  Board  of  Guardians  to  the  Resident  Physi- 
cians  for  the  infliction  of  punishment   upon   patients   under  their 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  267 

charge,  either  by  commitment  to  the  cells  or  by  means  of  the 
shower-baths,  and  any  infraction  will  subject  the  offender  to  imme- 
diate suspension  by  the  Hospital  Committee."    This  was  agreed  to. 

The  needs  of  the  Army  for  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion 
were  recognized  at  that  time,  as  will  be  seen  by  reports  to  the 
Board.  The  Matron  submitted  a  communication  on  the  13th  of 
January,  1862,  which  shows,  "with  the  sanction  of  the  committee, 
have  made,  by  the  women  in  this  department,  and  furnished  to  the 
Pennsylvania  troops  on  the  Potomac,  1000  pairs  of  good  woollen 
stockings  and  100  pairs  of  cloth  socks." 

Mr.  Dickinson  offered  the  following : 

''  Resolved^  That  the  Steward  be  authorized  to  loan  to  the 
United  States  Government,  for  the  use  of  the  military  hospitals  in 
this  city,  the  hospital  tents  belonging  to  this  department ;  and,  if 
desired,  on  the  part  of  the  Government,  he  is  further  authorized  to 
grant  permission  to  have  them  set  upon  the  farm  attached  to  this 
institution." 

The  resolution  was  adopted. 

The  census  showed  a  decrease  of  more  than  300  in  the  popu- 
lation of  the  house,  in  comparison  with  the  previous  year.  A  great 
many  of  the  men  who  generally  spent  at  least  part  of  their  time  in 
the  house  had  gone  into  the  service  of  the  country. 

Mr.  Maris  called  attention  to  the  reduction  made  by  Councils 
in  the  estimates  furnished  by  the  Board  for  the  expenses  of  the 
House  for  1862.  The  item  for  flour  had  been  reduced  from  $27,600 
to  $25,000,  and  the  item  for  beef  and  mutton  from  $28,000  to 
$25,000.  He  said  that  it  used  to  cost,  with  the  present  population, 
for  beef  and  mutton,  $61,000.  He  regretted  the  action  of  Councils, 
because  it  had  been  done  without  any  examination,  and  was  the 
first  evidence  shown  by  them  of  a  want  of  confidence  in  the  present 
Board.     He  thought  it  would  be  reconsidered  and  corrected. 

The  Committee  on  Outwards  made  report  of  the  bad  condition 
of  the  roofs  of  the  buildings,  and  instructions  were  given  to  obtain 
estimates  for  new  coverings.  The  roofs  at  that  time  M^ere  covered 
with  copper.  Estimates  were  received  and  it  was  decided  to  take 
off  the  old  copper  and  put  tin  on  instead.     The  copper  was  sold  for 


268  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

$35,070.78,  and  as  the  new  tin  cover  cost  $12,496.28,  there  was  a 
balance  of  $22,574.50  which  was  used  on  the  children's  asylum. 

It  was  common  talk  for  years  that  "  the  '  Board  of  Buzzards  ' 
stole  the  roof  off  of  the  Almshouse,"  but  this  statement  refutes  the 
assertion. 

The  Committee  to  whom  was  assigned  the  duty  of  erecting  a 
vault  for  the  reception  and  safe  keeping  of  the  bodies  of  those  who 
died  in  the  institution,  reported — "  That  in  accordance  with  in- 
structions, they  had  a  vault  erected  in  the  Almshouse  grounds,  at 
a  cost  not  exceeding  $100." 

The  receptacle  was  twenty-five  feet  long  and  twelve  feet  wide, 
and  was  fitted  to  hold  forty-two  cofiins.  The  substantial  manner 
in  which  it  was  built  and  its  close  proximity  to  the  residence  of  the 
outside  watchman,  made  the  Committee  feel  confident  that  the 
bodies  deposited  therein  would  remain  undisturbed  until  they  were 
no  longer  desirable  for  the  dissecting  table. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  which  directed  the  Committee  on 
Hospital  "  to  place  the  receiving  vault  under  the  care  of  one  of 
the  officials  of  the  House,  who  shall  be  held  responsible  for  the  safe 
keeping  of  the  bodies  deposited  therein,  have  them  removed  and 
properly  buried  when  danger  of  disinterment  no  longer  exists,  and 
no  sooner ;  and  also  see  that  the  objects  of  the  Board  in  having  the 
vault  constructed  be  strictly  carried  out." 

One  of  the  inmates  of  the  Insane  Department  succeeded  in 
committing  suicide  by  drowning.  The  matter  was  investigated 
and  the  Committee  made  a  very  singular  report,  in  which  it  was 
stated  :  "  The  suicide  of  Mrs.  Jenkins  was  unavoidable,  she  having 
drowned  herself  in  the  bath  tub,  the  room  door  being  open  to  allow 
the  patients  to  wash,  at  the  time." 

The  report  was  accepted. 

One  would  think  that  ordinar}^  care  for  the  insane  would  have 
suggested  the  necessity  of  having  an  attendant  on  duty  in  the 
bath  room  at  the  time  "  when  the  patients  were  allowed  to  wash." 
That  precaution  would  have  prevented  that  poor  woman's  sorrow- 
ful end  and  the  odium  which  is  produced  by  such  criminal  care- 
lessness. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  269 

The  matter  of  providing  separate  apartments  for  foundlings 
was  again  called  up  in  April,  1862.  Mr.  Maris  said,  "  The  little 
ones  in  the  Almshouse  positively  do  not  get  enough  to  properly 
sustain  life.  I  called  the  attention  of  a  member  of  the  Board  to  a 
beautiful  little  blue-eyed  baby,  six  or  eight  months  old,  that  would 
have  adorned  the  parlor  of  any  gentleman  here,  or  been  the  well- 
spring  of  pleasure  in  any  home  in  the  world.  This  was  only  a 
short  time  ago.  But  a  few  days  since  I  saw  that  innocent  baby ; 
its  blue  eyes  had  begun  to  fade,  its  eyelids  were  red,  and  certain 
other  indications  plainly  evidenced  that  it  was  afflicted  with  maras- 
mus.    This  was  the  result  of  not  feeding  the  baby  properly. 

"  On  asking  the  nurse  why  she  did  not  feed  it  better,  she 
replied :  '  I  can't,  for  I  haven't  milk  enough  for  my  own  baby.' 

"  Are  you  going  to  let  this  little  strange  baby  die  for  want  of 
proper  nourishment  ? 

"  '  Well,  I  can't  help  it,  I  haven't  any  more  milk  than  will  sup- 
ply my  own.'  This  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  condition  of  the  found- 
lings in  the  Almshouse." 

Mr.  Brown  said  "  that  not  long  since  a  '  pair  of  twins  '  were  left 
at  the  Almshouse,  and  the  '  Sisters  of  Mercy,'  who  have  a  home 
at  Tacony,  have  taken  charge  of  them,  and  say  they  are  ready  to 
take  charge  of  all  the  foundlings. 

"  The  Sisters  of  Mercy  have  an  office  at  Fourth  and  Franklin 
Streets,  where  little  foundlings  may  be  left,  instead  of  being 
placed  on  sundry  door  steps,  sidewalks  and  in  alleys,  as  has  been 
too  often  the  case  during  the  past  year  or  two.  The  door  steps  of 
the  Sisters  of  Mercy's  office  are  said  to  be  wide  and  handy." 

The  subject  was  referred  to  Committee  with  power  to  act. 

Notwithstanding  that  a  vault  had  been  erected  to  protect  the 
bodies  of  those  who  had  died  in  the  institution,  it  appears  that  the 
"  traffic  "  continued,  as  the  minutes  of  the  meeting  of  the  Board, 
held  November  3d,  1862,  show  that  Mr.  Dickinson  offered  the  fol- 
lowing:  ^'  Resolved^  That  the  vSteward  be  instructed  to  have  the 
bodies  of  those  who  die  in  the  House  placed  in  the  receiving  vaults, 
there  to  remain  as  provided  for  by  the  rules  of  the  Board." 

A  motion  was  made  to  postpone,  but  was  not  agreed  to. 


270  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Mr.  Erety  said  that  there  was  a  report  published  in  tiie  New 
York  papers  that  the  House  had  been  closed  against  medical  stu- 
dents. Therefore,  the  New  York  medical  colleges  were  making 
capital  out  of  these  statements,  and'  they  were  having  a  damaging 
effect  upon  our  medical  colleges." 

Mr.  Dickinson  thought  "  there  should  be  a  law  passed  in  this 
State  similar  to  the  one  in  New  York.  In  the  latter  place  the  col- 
leges are  entitled  to  the  bodies  of  paupers,  and  get  them  without 
pay ;  while  here  there  is  a  regular  traffic  in  dead  bodies,  which  the 
Board  is  anxious  to  stop.  This  business  has  been  going  on  all 
summer.  As  soon  as  the  burying  of  bodies  in  the  grave3^ard  was 
begun,  the  colleges  commenced  to  steal  them.  The  speaker  had 
been  informed  by  the  watchman  on  the  bridge  that  every  night 
bodies  were  taken  over,  and  he  supposed  they  were  from  the  Alms- 
house. About  three  weeks  ago  a  body  was  found  lying  near  the 
fence  of  the  grounds,  and  it  is  supposed  that  the  resurrectionists 
had  been  disturbed  in  their  work.'' 

The  resolution  was  laid  on  the  table.  This  action  called  forth 
comments  in  the  newspapers,  and  one  of  them  had  this  editorial : 

"  BuzzARDiSM  Revived." 

"  Some  time  ago  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  in  order  to  put  an 
end  to  the  Buzzard  practice,  had  a  vault  built  for  the  reception  of 
the  dead  bodies  of  paupers,  in  which  they  could  be  kept  until 
claimed  by  relatives,  if  called  for  in  a  reasonable  time,  or  until 
decay  had  so  far  progressed  as-  to  render  the  bodies  useless  for 
purposes  of  dissection.  This  regulation,  if  strictly  carried  out, 
would  have  put  an  end  to  the  '  Buzzard '  practices  which  have 
excited  so  much  attention  in  connection  with  that  institution.  It  was 
a  wise  and  good  arrangement.  At  a  recent  meeting  of  the  Guard- 
ians, however,  a  retrograde  movement  was  decided  upon.  It  was 
resolved  that  during  the  warm  weather  the  reception  vault  should 
not  be  used  for  purposes  of  interment  as  formerly.  What  might 
be  considered  '  warm  weather '  and  how  long  the  warm  weather 
was  to  last,  were  left  unexplained.  This  action,  however,  opens 
the  gates  for  the  medical  schools  completely.     Theoretically  the 


Q 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  271 

bodies  of  the  paupers  who  died  at  the  Almshouse  were  always  interred 
in  the  burying  ground,  but  practically  they  were  not.  The  sum- 
mer is  the  great  season  for  the  medical  schools,  the  bodies  being 
prepared  to  keep-  by  proper  injections  in  the  veins  and  by  preserv- 
ing them  in  whiskey,  ready  for  the  commencement  of  lectures  at 
the  colleges  in  the  fall.  Are  we  therefore  to  understand  that  the 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  have  determined  to  reopen  this  traffic,  not- 
withstanding the  pretence  of  opposition  to  it  which  the  erection  of 
the  receiving  vault  was  supposed  to  signify  ?  " 

A  communication  was  received  from  Councils  in  reference  to 
the  erection  of  a  Municipal  Hospital  for  cases  of  contagious  dis- 
eases. 

Messrs.  Dickinson  and  Haines  were  elected  Commissioners  to 
superintend  the  building  of  the  Hospital,  in  connection  with  the 
committees  appointed  by  Councils,  the  Board  of  Health,  the  Prison 
Inspectors  and  the  Mayor. 

The  House  Agent's  report  showed  that  the  number  in  the 
House  was  2,869;  at  the  same  time,  in  1861,  there  were  3,275 
inmates.  This  decrease  of  406  was  probabl}^  caused  by  the  enlist- 
ments for  the  army  or  navy. 

At  the  meeting  of  December  15,  1862,  the  following  communi- 
cation was  received  : 

"  The  Junction  Railroad  Company  have  located  their  line  of 
Railroad  through  the  City  Almshouse  property,  alongside  of  and 
immediately  adjacent   to  the  ground  now  occupied    by  the  West 
Chester  Railroad  Co.,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Directors 
held  December  10,  1862,  the  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

"  ^  Resolved^  That  the  Engineer  and  Secretary  of  the  Company 
be,  and  they  are  hereby  authorized  to  make  application  in  form  to 
the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  to  enter  upon  and  take  posses- 
sion of  such  property  belonging  to  the  City  as  may  be  necessary 
as  right  of  way  for  the  construction  of  the  Junction  Railroad,  and 
to  further  arrange,  if  possible,  with  said  Board  for  such  Jury  or 
Board  of  Viewers  as  may  be  necessary  to  fix  upon  the  value  of 
property  so  used,  and  to  perfect  title  to  the  Railroad  Company.' 

"  The  undersigned    would  respectfully  request    the    appoint- 


272  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

ifient  by  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  some  person  or  persons  witli 
whom  they  can  confer  on  this  subject  and  make  the  proper  arrange- 
ments in  accordance  with  the  above  resolution  at  as  early  date  as 

possible. 

"  John  A.  Wilson,  Kng'r. 

"Joseph  Leslie,  Sec'y." 

The  matter  was  referred  to  the  Committee  on  Farm,  in  con- 
nection with  the  President. 

The  amount  assessed  for  the  valuation  of  the  ground  required 
was  $10,000,  and  it  was  paid  by  the  Company  in  1865. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  December  31,  1862, 
whicH  provided  for  sending  the  feeble-minded  children  from  Block- 
ley  to  the  Training  School  at  Media.  This  was  a  very  wise  and 
charitable  movement ;  it  was  a  great  relief  to  the  officials  of  the 
institution,  as  it  was  almost  impossible  to  care  for  these  poor  unfor- 
tunates in  a  proper  manner  there.  The  term  feeble-minded  is  very 
elastic,  and  it  has  been  stretched  to  cover  a  large  number  of  dif- 
ferent kinds  of  mental  and  nervous  ailments.  Special  treatment  is 
required  for  these  various  diseases,  and  it  seems  to  be  wise  to  send 
these  cases  where  the  proper  treatment  can  be  given. 

Twelve  children  were  sent  in  1863,  ^^^  since  then  the  number 
has  been  increased,  from  time  to  time,  until  now  there  are  more 
than  one  hundred  and  sixty  in  that  institution,  for  whose  mainte- 
nance the  City  of  Philadelphia  defrays  the  expenses. 

Councils  appropriated  money  to  commence  the  heating  of  the 
buildings  by  steam  in  1863.  The  Committee  on  "  Ventilation  and 
Warmth  "  was  instructed  to  procure  a  plan  by  which  ventilation  and 
warmth  would  be  secured  in  all  the  buildings  connected  with  the 
Almshouse,  and  "  directed  to  proceed  with  the  work  and  complete 
as  much  thereof  as  can  be  done  with  the  appropriation  made  by 
Councils  for  that  purpose." 

As  so  many  of  the  able  bodied  men  connected  with  the  insti- 
tution had  entered  the  United  States  service,  Mr.  Taylor  offered  a 
resolution  on  June  16,  1863,  with  a  proviso  which  read: 

"  Whereas,  There  is  not  at  present  in  the  Almshouse  a  suf- 
ficient number  of  able-bodied  men  (paupers)  to  perform  the  neces- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  273 

sary  work,  the  Committee  on  Manufactures  be  authorized  to  make 
arrangements  with  the  Board  of  Prison  Inspectors  to  transfer  from 
the  prison  to  this  institution  such  male  vagrants  as  can,  in  the 
judgment  of  the  committee,  be  made  useful  to  the  public  by  labor- 
ing in  and  about  these  premises." 

At  the  same  meeting  a  committee  of  five  was  appointed  to  con- 
fer with  the  Committee  of  Councils  in  reference  to  the  starting  of 
a  House  of  Correction. 

The  drafting  of  men  to  fill  the  quota  for  the  army  took  four  of 
the  six  resident  physicians  in  Jiily  and  another  in  August,  1863. 

President  Maris  retired  from  the  Board,  and  Mahlon  H.  Dick- 
inson was  elected  in  his  stead  October  6,  1863. 

Mr.  Lee  offered  a  resolution,  on  February  9,  1864,  which 
instructed  the  "  committee  to  inquire  and  report  whether  it  is 
advisable  to  invite  applications  from  soldiers  who  may  be  disabled 
in  the  field  to  be  employed  in  the  various  offices  under  the  charge 
of  the  Board." 

Four  boilers  for  heating  purposes  were  contracted  for,  to  cost 
$1,400  each. 

Mr.  Dickinson  resigned  May  17,  1864,  and  Mr.  George  Erety 
was  elected  as  President  to  fill  the  vacancy. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

TERRIBLE    ACCIDENT    IN    INSANE    DEPARTMENT— NEW    MUNICIPAIv 

HOSPITAL    OPENED. 

ON  the  morning  of  July  20th,  1864,  ^^  about  six  o'clock,  the 
foundation  of  a  pier,  which  was  the  central  support  of  a 
series  of  arches  which  upheld  a  chimney-stack  and  walls, 
on  which  rested  the  joists  of  the  second,  third  and  attic 
stories  of  a  tier  of  wards  in  the  transept  of  the  women's  portion  of 
the  insane  department,  gave  way,  and  without  any  warning,  the 
whole  division  wall  and  chimney-stack  fell  in  with  a  crash,  burying 
many  of  the  patients  in  the  ruins.  Of  these  fifteen  were  killed 
outright  or  died  very  soon  after  they  were  extricated,  and  twenty- 
five  were  more  or  less  severely  injured,  of  whom  two  subsequently 
died.  The  wards  in  which  the  accident  occurred  were  45  feet  by 
48  feet  in  size,  and  the  wall  that  fell  divided  them  through  the 
centre. 

The  ward  on  the  first  floor  was  occupied  on  one  side  of  the 
arches  as  a  sitting-room  for  the  epileptic  and  idiotic  patients,  about 
sixty  in  number,  and  on  the  other  as  their  dining-room  and  that  of 
the  colored  patients,  about  thirty  in  number.  Breakfast  was  just 
being  prepared,  and  if  the  accident  had  happened  fifteen  minutes 
later,  there  could  hardly  have  been  less  than  seventy-five  killed  on 
this  floor  alone.  As  it  was,  there  were  but  three  killed,  one  of 
whom  was  an  assistant  nurse,  and  a  few  slightly  injured. 

Those  in  the  sitting-room  were  protected  by  the  joists  of  the 
second  floor,  which  fell  in  the  centre,  but  rested  against  the  outer 
walls.  The  patients  were  left  in  the  angle  thus  made,  mostly 
unharmed. 

The  ward  on  the  second  floor  was  all  used  as  a  sitting-room 
for  eighty  patients,  a  large  portion  of  whom  were  carried  into  the 
vortex,  and  several  were  killed  and  others  wounded. 

The  ward  on  the  third  floor  was  used  as  an  infirmary,  and  was 
occupied  by  about  twenty-five  sick   and  infirm   women,  many  of 
274 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  275 

whom  were  in  bed.  Nearly  all  of  these,  with  the  nurse  in  charge, 
were  precipitated  to  the  first  floor,  and  a  large  proportion  of  the 
killed  and  wounded  belonged  to  this  ward.  The  nurse  escaped 
most  miraculously,  with  a  few  bruises.  The  nurses  on  the  lower 
floors  had  fortunately  just  left  their  wards. 

The  attic  floor  was  occupied  as  a  sleeping-room  by  the  washer- 
women, scrubbers,  etc.,  and  they  had  just  gone  down.  It  is  remark- 
able that  so  few  were  killed  and  injured. 

In  1849  ^  contract  was  made  with  Birkenbine  &  Martin  to 
construct  a  heating  apparatus.  In  performing  this  work  in  the 
basement,  the  centre  piers  and  chimneys  w^ere  cut  entirely  through 
a  width  of  six  feet,  leaving  eight  inches  on  one  side  and  four  on 
the  other  to  support  the  pier  above. 

The  condition  of  the  walls  under  the  piers  had  not  been  no- 
ticed until  within  a  few  weeks  previous  to  the  accident,  when  work- 
men were  engaged  in  making  a  different  arrangement  for  heating. 
As  soon  as  it  was  noticed,  workmen  were  employed  to  strengthen 
the  foundation,  and  were  so  engaged  on  the  day  preceding  the  acci- 
dent, a  temporary  wooden  upright  had  been  placed  under  the  pier 
that  fell,  and  preparations  had  been  made  to  build  a  solid  wall 
under  this  pier. 

The  Coroner's  Jur}^,  after  investigation,  said :  "There  is  no 
doubt  whatever  in  the  minds  of  the  Jnry  that  the  cutting  away  of 
the  piers  was  the  cause  of  the  accident.  It  is  possible,  however, 
that  the  preparations  made  the  day  before  may  have  hastened  the 
catastrophe.  Independently  of  this,  the  pier  must  have  soon  given 
way,  as  the  Jury  noticed  a  settling  of  floors  opposite  to  all  of  the 
piers  similar  to  the  one  that  fell.  It  is  only  a  matter  of  surprise 
that  it  did  not  happen  long  before.  The  Jury  cannot  but  condemn 
in  the  strongest  terms  the  reckless  manner  in  which  the  altera- 
tions were  made  in  1849.  No  care  whatever  appears  to  have  been 
taken  to  examine  into  and  preserve  the  strength  necessary  to  sup- 
port the  weight  of  the  walls,  piers  and  floors  above." 

The  verdict  of  the  Jury  was  :  "  That  on  the  20th  day  of  July, 
1864,  the  victims  of  the  disaster  came  to  their  deaths  by  reason  of 
injuries  inflicted  by  the  falling  of  the  division  walls  already  noted, 


276  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

together  with  the  floors  resting  on  said  walls,  the  primary  cause 
being  the  careless  manner  in  which  the  walls  under  the  centre  pier 
were  cut  away,  in  constructing  and  introducing  heating  apparatus 
in  the  year  1849." 

It  will  be  remembered  that  at  the  time  the  work  was  done  it 
was  not  at  all  satisfactory  and  the  Guardians  refused  to  pay  for  it. 
The  contractors  entered  suit  and  it  was  settled  by  a  compromise. 

There  was  considerable  discussion,  at  this  period,  about  the 
large  number  of  deaths  in  the  Children's  Asylum,  which  led  to  the 
appointment  of  a  Committee  of  Councils  to  "  investigate  and 
report  what  the  average  population  of  the  Asylum  was  during  the 
two  years  dating  back  from  June  ist,  1864,  together  with  the  mor- 
tality during  that  period  ;  also  the  two  years  dating  back  from  June 
ist,  1862,  together  with  the  mortality  during  that  period." 

The  Committee  reported  that  the  information  had  been  ob- 
tained and  a  report  from  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  enclosing  a 
voluminous  statement  from  the  Medical  Board,  was  presented  to 
Councils.  President  Brety,  on  behalf  of  the  Guardians,  said  :  ''  To 
have  furnished  a  mere  statement  of  the  number  of  inmates  and 
number  of  deaths  in  the  Children's  Asylum,  during  those  four 
years — without  giving  some  other  items  of  information  in  explana- 
tion of  what  might  have  appeared  a  very  high  rate  of  mortality — 
would  have  scarcely  answered  the  spirit  and  design  of  the  inquiry. 
In  order  to  afford  to  Councils  all  the  light  upon  the  subject  within 
our  control,  the  Board  of  Guardians  requested  the  Medical  Board  of 
the  Almshouse  to  supply  them  with  the  statistics,  as  well  of  the 
Children's  Asylum  of  the  Almshouse,  as  also  of  such  other  kindred 
establishments  elsewhere  as  they  had  knowledge  of,  and  also  with 
such  other  information  as  they  might  think  useful  to  Councils,  or 
to  the  public,  upon  the  inquiry  presented. 

"  The  latter  report  is  hereto  annexed,  and  reference  thereto 
requested,  as  presenting  the  statistics  called  for,  and  the  material 
facts  necessary  for  a  proper  understanding  of  the  causes  which 
produce  the  large  proportion  of  deaths  in  the  inmates  of  the 
Children's  Asylum. 

"  These  causes  may  be  reduced  to  the  following  heads  : 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  277 

"  I.  The  very  low  physical  condition  of  one  class  of  the 
inmates  at  the  time  of  coming  into  the  Asylum — viz.  :  the 
Foundlings. 

"  II.  The  defects  of  the  sewerage  and  ventilation  of  the  Alms- 
house building  used  for  the  Children's  Asylum. 

"  III.  The  proximity  of  the  Asylum  to  the  Surgical  and  Medi- 
cal Wards  of  the  Almshouse. 

"  The  first  of  these  causes  no  effort  on  the  part  of  this  Board 
or  its  Medical  Of&cers  can  remove.  It  is  the  history  of  all  estab- 
lishments receiving  and  caring  for  foundling  children,  that  a  very 
large  proportion  of  them  die  in  infancy,  by  reason  of  the  diseased 
constitutions  they  have  inherited  from  their  parents  ;  it  seems  so 
ordered  by  Providence.  Even  with  the  utmost  care  and  attention 
which  can  be  afforded  by  good  medical  attendance  and  nursing,  this 
result  is  certain  to  follow,  as  the  facts  detailed  in  the  medical 
report  will  demonstrate.  Yet,  our  duty  is  plain,  to  sustain  and 
preserve  these  lives,  feeble,  imperfect  and  diseased  as  they  may  be, 
by  all  means  and  efforts  within  onr  reach. 

"  The  second  of  these  causes,  this  Board,  through  its  Com- 
mittee having  charge  of  the  Children's  Asylum,  have  done  and  are 
doing  all  that  lies  in  their  power  to  remedy,  with  the  means  at 
their  command  for  the  purpose.  When  it  is  borne  in  mind  that 
no  other  location  for  this  Asylum  was  open  to  the  Board  than  one 
of  the  Wards  of  the  Almshouse,  which  in  its  original  construction 
was  deficient  in  the  important  items  of  proper  sewerage  and  ven- 
tilation, Councils  can  well  understand  that  though  subsequent 
alterations  may  make  some  improvement,  this  Board  cannot,  while 
occupying  their  present  quarters  for  the  children,  properly  provide 
in  these  respects  for  the  wants  of  the  inmates  as  they  could  in  a 
separate  building  designed  exclusively  for  these  objects  of  the 
public  care,  with  the  improvements  which  modern  science  and 
present  experience  have  proved  to  be  necessary  for  supplying  an 
abundance  of  fresh  air  and  proper  drainage. 

''  In  respect  to  the  third  cause,  as  above  stated,  this  Board 
have  long  since  been  impressed  with  the  conviction  that  no  altera- 
tion of  the   apartments  in  the  present  Almshouse  building,  now 


278  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

used  for  the  Children's  Asylum,  will  ever  render  them  suitable  for 
the  purpose  for  which  they  are  now  used,  and  that  the  health  of 
the  children  can  only  be  properly  provided  for  in  a  building  sepa- 
rate and  apart  from  the  wards  now  occupied  by  the  sick  and  infirm 
adults.  Acting  under  this  conviction,  this  Board  heretofore  applied 
to  Councils  for  authority  to  construct  such  a  building. 

"  This  authority  was  granted  by  an  Ordinance  passed  the  19th 
day  of  April,  1862,  upon  the  terms  therein  prescribed,  and  a  special 
appropriation  of  the  surplus  realized  on  the  sale  of  the  old  copper 
roofing  (after  defraying  the  cost  of  a  new  roof)  was  made  towards 
the  construction  of  such  building. 

''  The  Board  of  Guardians,  after  the  passage  of  this  Ordinance, 
proceeded  to  have  plans  matured  and  prepared  of  a  plain,  substan- 
tial building,  of  a  capacity  suitable  to  the  wants  of  that  particular 
portion  of  the  Almshouse  population,  the  estimated  cost  of  which 
was,  at  that  time,  $50,000.  The  work  was  actually  commenced,  so 
far  as  with  the  labor  at  our  command  from  the  inmates  of  the 
house,  to  grade  and  prepare  the  site  and  to  quarry  the  stone  to  be 
used  in  the  building.  But  when  the  time  arrived  for  the  purchase 
of  other  materials  and  the  employment  of  skilled  mechanics,  the 
prices  had  advanced  to  such  a  point  as  to  deter  us  from  further 
prosecution  of  the  work,  as  the  cost  of  the  building  would  probably 
have  reached  nearly  twice  the  original  estimate. 

"  While  the  Board  have  refrained,  under  present  circumstances, 
from  pressing  upon  the  attention  of  Councils  the  great  want  felt 
for  this  new  building,  they  still  express  the  hope  that  the  time  will 
soon  come  when  an  adequate  fund  can  be  placed  at  their  disposal 
to  ensure  its  completion,  and  that  the  claims  of  these  children  upon 
us  can  be  met  and  discharged  in  a  manner  worthy  of  our  city, 
which  has  won  a  name  for  its  efforts  to  relieve  the  poor  and  the 
helpless,  in  which  the  citizens  take  a  just  pride. 

"  It  is  proper,  in  conclusion,  that  the  Guardians  should  add 
that  as  to  the  care  and  treatment  which  the  children  receive  at  the 
hands  of  the  medical  attendants,  matrons  and  nurses,  they  appear 
to  be  as  well  provided  in  those  respects  as  they  can  be  while 
occupying    such   apartments    in  the  Almshouse    as    it    is    in    the 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  279 

power  of  the  Guardians  to  at  this  time  devote  to  their  accommo- 
dation." 

The  Medical  Board's  report,  in  giving  the  statistics,  said : 
"  It  will  be  right,  however,  to  remark,  in  anticipation,  that  the 
principal  mortality  in  the  asylum  is  due  to  the  presence  of  found- 
lings, and  these  foundlings  were  not  admitted  to  the  wards  until 
the  loth  of  August,  1861,  hence  the  ratio  of  deaths  in  i860  differs 
in  so  marked  a  degree  from  that  exhibited  in  the  following  years. 

"  The  following  table  will  show  the  relative  population  and 
mortality  in  the  Children's  Asylum  : 

YEARS.                                  POPULATION.                                   MORTALITY.  OF   WHICH   WERE   FOUNDLINGS. 

1860-61     ....  352  ....  28  00 

1861-62  .  .  -  .   462   .....   79   37 

1862-63  .....   460   ....   91   33 

1863-64.  .  .  .   486   ....   Ill   36 

"  It  might,  perhaps,  be  proper  here  to  state,  as  explaining  the 
great  mortality  exhibited  by  these  figures  as  occurring  among  the 
foundlings,  that  these  children  come  into  the  institution  under  the 
most  unfavorable  circumstances.  They  are  generally  the  children 
of  the  vicious  and  diseased,  and  the  constitution  which  they  inherit 
from  their  parents  is  such  as  to  make  their  early  death  unavoidable. 

"  But  in  addition  to  this  large  class  of  foundlings,  others  are 
admitted  reduced  to  the  lowest  extremity  by  many  other  causes, 
such  as  starvation,  exposure,  improper  clothing  and  the  free  use  of 
narcotic  poisons  ;  most  of  these  are  dying  when  admitted,  few  sur- 
vive one  month,  notwithstanding  the  utmost  care. 

"  Statistics  of  infant  mortality  show  us,  that  of  all  the  chil- 
dren born  one  in  three  dies  before  the  completion  of  the  first  year. 
It  is  easy  to  understand,  therefore,  that  the  mortality  among  in- 
fants in  an  institution  devoted  exclusively  to  their  care  must 
necessarily  be  very  large,  even  under  the  most  favorable  circum- 
stances. But  when  we  bear  in  mind  that  these  infants,  instead  of 
being  placed  in  our  care  under  the  most  favorable  circumstances, 
are  brought  to  us  under  conditions  the  very  reverse,  we  can  easily 
perceive  that  the  rate  of  mortality  must  be  greatly  increased." 

This  report  contained  statistics  of  the  mortality  in  other  coun- 


280  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

tries  and  States  :  "  The  proportion  of  deaths  at  Turin  is  estimated 
at  75  per  cent,  of  the  total  admissions.  At  Moscow  the  admissions 
during  ten  years  averaged  5,255  annually,  and  the  deaths  3,471. 
During  the  ten  years  from  1822  to  1831  inclusive,  39,114  children 
were  received  into  the  hospital  at  St.  Petersburg,  and  31,799  died. 
It  was  stated  that  317  died  out  of  417  who  were  admitted  into  the 
hospital  at  Arch-Angel. 

"■  At  the  close  of  the  last  century,  the  mortality  of  foundlings 
during  the  first  year  was,  at  St.  Petersburg,  40  per  cent.;  at  Paris, 
80  per  cent.;  at  Florence,  40  per  cent.;  at  Marseilles,  90  per  cent.; 
at  Barcelona,  60  per  cent.;  and  at  Dublin,  91  per  cent. 

''  In  the  Foundling  Wards  of  the  Blockley  Hospital  the  whole 
number  of  admissions  into  the  Children's  Asylum  up  to  June  ist, 
1864,  was  154,  of  which   126  died,  or  nearly  82  per  cent." 

The  report  spoke  of  the  defective  sewerage  and  ventilation  and 
suggested  some  improvements.  It  expressed  the  hope  that  when 
the  heating  apparatus,  then  in  course  of  construction,  was  com- 
pleted, if  connection  could  be  made  with  proper  flues,  great  im- 
provement in  the  ventilation  might  be  anticipated. 

The  reports  appeared  to  be  satisfactory  to  Councils,  and  the 
committee  was  discharged  from  the  further  consideration  of  the 
subject. 

When  we  consider  the  feeling  that  had  existed  between  the 
members  of  Councils  and  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  extend- 
ing over  a  period  of  many  years,  it  is  very  refreshing  to  read  the 
report  of  a  special  committee,  appointed  to  investigate  certain 
charges  made  against  the  management  of  the  Almshouse,  presented 
by  Dr.  Uhler,  chairman,  at  the  meeting  of  Councils  held  on  the 
27th  of  October,  1864.  The  report  said :  "After  a  full  and  thor- 
ough investigation  of  the  matters  confided  to  us,  in  which  we  have 
received  every  facility,  as  well  from  the  Guardians  as  from  the  offi- 
cers of  the  institution,  your  Committee  is  satisfied  that  not  the 
slightest  foundation  exists  for  the  charges  made  in  Councils,  and 
they  cannot  refrain  from  expressing  their  regrets  that  so  serious  a 
charge  against  one  of  our  most  important  public  institutions 
should   have    been    made    upon    no   better  authority   than    mere 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  281 

idle  rumor,    set    afloat    most    probably    by    some    gossiping   old 
woman." 

The  report  was  accepted  and  the  committee  discharged. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Visitors  showed  that  the  total  num- 
ber who  received  out-door  relief  during  the  year  1864  was  60,651  ; 
of  whom  20,657  were  white  adults,  31,795  white  children,  3,399 
colored  adults  and  4,800  colored  children.  Of  the  M-hole  number, 
10,740  were  Americans,  13,316  foreigners  and  36,595  children. 

A  communication  was  received  on  November  27th,  1865,  from 
Dr.  S.  D.  Gross,  resigning  his  position  as  Surgeon  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Hospital,  a  post  to  which  he  had  been  annually  re-elected  for 
the  past  seven  years.  President  Erety  remarked  that  he  greatly 
regretted  the  resignation  of  Dr.  Gross,  which  he  understood  was 
caused  by  the  great  increase  of  his  practice,  and  he  suggested  to 
the  Board  the  propriety  of  creating  an  Emeritus  position,  which 
could  be  conferred  on  eminent  medical  practitioners  on  their  resig- 
nation from  offices  held  under  the  Board,  so  that  they  could,  without 
fear  of  being  accused  of  interference,  give  aid  and  advice  at  the 
Hospital  during  the  prevalence  of  epidemics. 

The  resignation  was  accepted  and  Dr.  F.  F.  Maury,  of  the 
Medical  Staff,  was  subsequently  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Dr. 
Garvin  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Medical  Staff. 

The  falling  off  of  the  population  of  the  House  during  the 
years  that  the  Rebellion  lasted  shows  clearly  how  it  was  affected 
by  the  War.  The  largest  number  of  inmates  during  the  year  1861 
was  3,299.     In  1862  it  fell  to  2,881,  in  1863  i^  was  2,746,  while  in 

1864  it  was  only  2,683.     In   1865,  after  the  close  of  the  War,  it 
increased  to  3,015,  and  it  was  reported  that  on  Christmas  Day  in 

1865  the  number  in  the  House  was  651  more  than  were  there  on 
the  same  day  in  1863. 

The  new  Municipal  Hospital  for  the  treatment  of  contagious 
diseases,  which  had  been  erected  on  the  grounds  at  Twenty-second 
Street  and  Lehigh  Avenue,  was  formally  opened  on  April  1 8th, 
1865.  It  was  expected  to  relieve  the  Almshouse  by  caring  for 
cases  of  small  pox,  etc.,  from  that  institution,  and  was  much 
needed. 


282  Histor}'  of   Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

After  ineffectual  attempts  had  been  made  at  a  number  of  the 
meetings  of  the  Guardians  to  elect  a  Chief  Physician  for  the  In- 
sane Department,  Dr.  D.  D.  Richardson  was  selected  on  November 
13th,  1866,  to  succeed  Dr.  Butler  who  had  been  in  charge  there 
since  September,  1859,  when  it  was  separated  from  the  hospital  and 
made  a  department  by  itself. 

In  answer  to  an  inquiry  the  Board  informed  the  Governor  of 
the  Commonwealth  that,  on  March  5th,  1867,  there  were  182  Penn- 
sylvania soldiers  in  the  Almshouse,  of  whom  152  were  white  and  30 
colored.     Of  these  eight  were  in  the  Insane  Department. 

On  April  17th,  of  that  year,  General  Wagner  offered  the  fol- 
lowing in  Common  Council : 

"  Whereas,  The  rapid  progress  of  improvements  in  the 
Southern,  Western  and  Northwestern  portions  of  our  city  will 
necessitate  the  early  removal  of  our  prisons  and  Almshouse  ;  and, 

"  Whereas,  An  economical  management  of  our  penal  and 
reformatory  institutions  require  their  concentration  as  well  as  their 
location  on  ground  not  accessible  to  general  improvement ;  therefore, 

"  Resolved^  By  the  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  That  a  Joint  Committee  of  three  from  each  cham- 
ber be  appointed  to  consider  the  feasibility  of  acquiring  possession 
of  Treaty  Island,  commonly  known  as  Petty's  Island,  or  such 
other  suitable  location,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  thereon  our 
County  prison,  penitentiary.  Almshouse,  houses  of  correction  and 
refuge,  as  they  may  be  removed  from  their  present  location  from 
time  to  time." 

The  resolution  was  passed  and  the  Committee  appointed,  but, 
as  no  action  was  subsequently  taken  by  Councils  it  can  be  assumed 
that  it  was  found  to  be  impracticable,  as  Treaty  Island  is  within  the 
Jurisdiction  of  the  State  of  New  Jersey. 

George  Brety,  Esq.,  President  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  died 
on  August  nth,  1867.  Mr.  John  M.  Whitall  was  elected  Presi- 
dent to  fill  the  vacancy. 

Dr.  D.  Hayes  Agnew  resigned  his  position  as  Curator,  Octo- 
ber 15th,  1867,  and  Dr.  William  Pepper  was  elected  in  his  place. 


CHAPTER   XXVI. 

PIRST  GROUND  SOLD  TO  THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  PENNSYLVANIA— WINGS 
TO  INSANE  DEPARTMENT  BUILDINGS. 

WE  now  come  to  the  sale  of  tlie  first  piece  of  Almshouse 
ground  to  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  as  that 
M^as  the  entering  wedge,  the  matter  is  reported  in  full. 
On  the  13th  of  May,  1869,  the   Chairman  of  the 
Einance   Committee  reported   favorably  upon  a  bill  entitled  "  An 
■Ordinance  to  sell  a  tract  of  land  situated  in  the  Twenty-seventh 
Ward,  belonging  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia.'' 

"  Section  i — The  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  do  ordain.  That  the  following  described  real  estate, 
belonging  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  situated  in  the  Twenty- 
seventh  Ward,  of  said  City,  bounded  and  described  as  follows,  viz. : 
Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  middle  of  Thirtj^-foarth  Street,  con- 
tinued, where  the  same  is  intersected  by  the  Northeastern  line 
•of  the  Blockley  Almshouse  farm ;  thence  southward  along  the 
middle  of  said  Thirty-fourth  Street,  crossing  Locust  and  Spruce 
Streets  continued,  about  eleven  hundred  and  twenty-three  (11 23) 
feet  to  the  middle  of  Pine  Street,  as  proposed  to  be  continued,  sixty 
feet  in  width  ;  thence  eastwardly  along  the  middle  of  said  last  men- 
tioned proposed  street,  crossing  Thirty-third  Street  continued, 
about  seven  hundred  and  seventy-eight  [jj^)  feet  to  the  middle  of 
Thirty-second  Street  as  proposed  to  be  laid  out,  sixty-feet  in  width  ; 
thence  continuing  northeasterly,  along  the  middle  of  said  last- 
mentioned  street,  about  five  hundred  and  eight  (508)  feet  to  the 
middle  of  Spruce  Street,  continued ;  thence  eastwardly,  along  the 
middle  of  said  Spruce  Street,  about  two  hundred  and  five  (205)  feet 
to  a  point  in  the  northeastern  line  of  the  Blockley  Almshouse  farm 
aforesaid,  and  thence  northwesterly  along  the  said  northeastern  line 
of  the  said  Blockley  Almshouse  farm,  crossing  Thirty-third  Street 
and  Locust  Street,  about  fourteen  hundred  and  forty  (1440)  feet  to 
the  middle  of  said  Thirty-fourth  Street  and  place  of  beginning,  con- 

283  ' 


284  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

taining  together  and  included  in  said  bounds  nineteen  acres  and 
sixteen  one-hundredths  of  an  acre,  more  or  less,  be  and  is  hereby- 
sold  by  the  City  of  Philadelphia  to  the  Trustees  of  the  University 
of  Pennsylvania,  their  successors  and  assigns,  for  the  price  or  sum 
of  eight  thousand  (8000)  dollars  per  acre,  payable  in  cash  at  the 
time  of  the  execution  and  delivery  of  the  deed  ;  ^'' Provided^  however y 
That  the  proceeds  of  said  sale  shall  be  paid  to  the  City  Treasurer 
and  form  part  of  the  sinking  fund  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

^'^ And  also ^T\^2X.  the  said  Trustees  shall,  when  requested  by 
Ordinance  or  the  Survey  Department,  duly  dedicate  to  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  for  public  use  as  streets  and  highways  all  the  ground 
covered  by  the  streets  or  parts  of  streets  which  shall  or  may  pass 
over  said  tract  of  land. 

^''And  also^  That  they,  the  said  Trustees,  shall  at  the  time  of 
the  execution  of  the  deed,  enter  into  a  sufficient  agreement  with 
the  City  as  to  require  them,  without  expense  to  the  said  City,  to- 
open,  grade,  pave  and  curb  said  streets  and  parts  of  streets  and 
intersections  thereof,  at  such  times  and  manner  as  may  be  deemed 
necessary  by  the  authorities  of  said  City. 

'"''And  also,  That  said  Trustees  shall,  at  the  same  time,  enter 
into  an  agreement  with  the  City  that  said  property  or  improve- 
ments to  be  made  thereon  shall  not  be  exempt  from  taxation,  except 
that  portion  thereof  as  is  actually  in  use  for  University  purposes, 
and  that  even  such  exemption  shall  not  be  claimed  until  such  time 
as  all  the  other  real  estate  owned  by  said  University  become  liable 
to  taxation. 

^^And  also,  That  the  terms  of  sale  mentioned  in  this  Ordinance 
shall  be  accepted  and  fully  complied  with  by  said  purchasers  within 
six  months  from  the  date  of  its  passage,  and  said  purchasers  shall 
pay  all  expenses  for  stamps  and  conveyancing. 

"  Section  2. — That  the  Mayor  of  the  City  be  and  is  hereby 
authorized  to  affix  the  corporate  seal  of  the  City  to  such  deed  or 
deeds  as  may  be  necessary  to  convey  the  said  tract  of  land  to  the 
said  purchasers  in  accordance  with  this  ordinance." 

The  bill  passed  Common  Council  on  that  day  and  was  sent  to- 
the  Select  Council  for  concurrence.     It  was  called  up  for  consid- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  285 

eration  on  June  iith,  and,  after  some  discussion,  it  was  indefinitely 
postponed. 

Nothing  appears  to  have  been  done  until  November  4th,  at 
which  time  Mr.  Cattell  moved  "  that  the  Chamber  do  now  resume 
the  consideration  of  the  bill,"  whicb  was  agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  16 
to  12. 

An  amendment  was  offered  to  the  first  section  to  strike  out 
the  description  of  the  property  proposed  to  be  sold,  and  inserting 
in  its  place  the  description  of  a  tract  in  a  different  location.  After 
the  reading  of  the  amendment  it  was  moved  that  the  further  con- 
sideration of  the  bill  be  postponed,  and  that  it  be  made  the  special 
order  for  the  next  stated  meeting,  at  4.30  p.  m.  The  motion  was 
agreed  to. 

At  the  meeting  on  November  nth,  Mr.  Cattell  moved  "that 
the  Chamber  do  now  proceed  to  vote  upon  the  motion  to  reconsider 
the  vote  indefinitely  postponing  the  bill,  the  proceedings  as  to  this 
bill  at  the  last  stated  meeting  being  informal  and  erroneous." 

This  was  agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  14  to  11. 

It  is  hard  to  understand  how  a  motion  to  reconsider  a  vote  that 
had  been  taken  five  months  previously  could  be  entertained,  but  it 
was  acted  on  by  Select  Council. 

The  motion  to  indefinitely  postpone  the  further  consideration 
of  the  bill  was  then  declared  to  be  before  the  Chamber.  It  was  not 
agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  11  ayes  to  16  nays.  Mr.  McCall  moved  that 
the  bill  be  laid  on  the  table. 

This  was  decided  negatively  by  the  same  number  of  ayes  and 
nays. 

The  bill  thereupon  being  again  before  the  Chamber  on  second 
reading,  Mr.  Cattell  moved  as  a  substitute  for  the  bill  under  con- 
sideration the  following :  "  An  Ordinance  to  authorize  the  sale  of 
the  lot  of  ground  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward." 

"  Section  i. — The  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia  do  ordain,  That  the  Mayor  of  the  city  be  and  is 
hereby  authorized  to  sell  to  the  Trustees  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  their  successors  and  assigns,  all  that  certain  lot  or 
piece  of  ground,  being  part  of  what  is  commonly  known  as  the 


286  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Almshouse  Farm,  situate  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia,  and  bounded  and  described  as  follows,  viz. :  '  Begin- 
ning at  a  point  where  the  northeastern  boundar}'  line  of  the  said 
Almshouse  Farm  intersects  the  middle  of  the  Darby  road,  thence 
along  said  boundary  line  southeastwardly  to  a  point  where  the 
same  intersects  the  middle  of  Thirty-fourth  Street,  as  continued, 
thence  along  the  middle  of  said  Thirty-fourth  Street  southward, 
crossing  Locust  Street,  to  a  point  where  the  said  line  intersects  the 
middle  line  of  Spruce  Street,  thence  as  along  the  middle  line  of 
Spruce  Street,  continued,  westward  to  a  point  where  said  line  inter- 
sects the  middle  line  of  Thirty-sixth  Street,  as  continued,  thence 
northward  along  the  middle  line  of  said  Thirty-sixth  Street  to  a 
point  where  the  said  line  intersects  the  middle  line  of  said  Darby 
road,  thence  along  the  middle  line  of  said  Darby  road  by  its  several 
courses  northeastwardly  to  a  point  where  said  middle  line  inter- 
sects the  said  northeastern  boundary  line  of  the  Almshouse  Farm, 
being  the  place  of  beginning,  for  the  price  of  eight  thousand  dollars 
an  acre,  the  area  of  said  piece  of  ground  to  be  ascertained  by  a 
survey  thereof,  to  be  made  by  the  proper  survey  officers  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia  :  Provided^  That  before  the  deeds  shall  be  executed 
the  streets  (excepting  Irving  Street)  as  proposed  unanimously  by 
the  Committee  on  Poor,  shall  first  be  opened  and  dedicated  to  the 
public  use,  so  far  as  the  above  property  is  concerned :  And  pro- 
vided^ hoivever^  That  the  proceeds  of  said  sale  shall  be  paid  to  the 
City  Treasurer  and  form  part  of  the  Sinking  Fund  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia :  And  provided  also^  That  the  said  Trustees  shall, 
when  requested  by  Ordinance  or  the  Survey  Department,  duly 
dedicate  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  for  public  use  as  streets  or 
highways,  all  the  ground  covered  by  the  streets  or  parts  of  streets, 
which  shall  or  may  pass  over  said  tract  of  land  :  And  provided  also^ 
That  they  the  said  Trustees  shall,  at  the  time  of  the  execution  of 
the  deeds,  enter  into  an  agreement  with  the  City  as  to  require 
them,  without  expense  to  the  City,  to  open,  grade,  pave  and  curb 
said  streets  and  parts  of  streets  and  intersections  thereof  at  such 
times  and  manner  as  may  be  deemed  necessary  by  the  authorities 
of  said  City :  And  provided  also,  That  said  Trustees  shall,  at  the 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  287 

same  time,  enter  into  an  agreement  with  the  City,  that  said  prop- 
erty or  improvements  to  be  made  thereon  shall  not  be  exempt  from 
taxation,  except  that  portion  thereof  as  is  actually  in  use  for  Uni- 
versity purposes,  and  that  even  such  exemption  shall  not  be  claimed 
until  such  time  as  all  the  other  real  estate  owned  by  said  Univer- 
sity becomes  liable  to  taxation  :  And  provided  also^  That  the  terms 
of  sale  mentioned  in  this  Ordinance  shall  be  accepted  and  fully 
complied  with  by  said  purchasers  within  six  months  from  the  date 
of  approval  by  the  Mayor  of  this  ordinance,  and  said  purchasers 
shall  pay  all  expenses  for  stamps  and  conveyancing.' 

"  Section  2. — That  the  Mayor  of  the  City  be  and  he  is  hereby 
authorized  to  affix  the  Corporate  seal  of  the  City  to  each  deed  or 
deeds  as  may  be  necessary  to  convey  the  said  tract  of  land  to  the 
said  purchasers,  in  accordance  with  this  Ordinance." 

Mr.  McCall  moved  that  the  bill  and  the  proposed  substitute 
be  referred  to  a  Special  Committee  of  three  members  of  this  cham- 
ber.    The  motion  was  not  agreed  to. 

The  question  being  on  the  motion  to  substitute  the  bill  offered 
by  Mr.  Cattell,  it  was  agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  21  to  5. 

It  will  be  seen  that  the  Select  Council  bill  reduced  the  area  of 
ground  very  materially.  The  Common  Council  bill  covered  ground 
to  the  eastward  of  Thirtj^-fourth  Street,  running  from  Darby  road 
(now  Woodland  Avenue)  to  Pine  Street,  and  from  Thirty-fourth 
Street,  to  the  line  which  was  at  about  where  Thirty-first  Street 
would  be  located. 

The  Select  Council  substitute  included  the  ground  extending 
from  Thirty-fourth  to  Thirty-sixth  Streets,  and  from  Darby  road 
to  Spruce  Street. 

Upon  the  second  reading  of  the  bill  Mr.  Mcllvain  moved  to 
amend  by  adding  the  words  :  "  And  provided  also^  That  the  said 
University  shall  pay  the  cost  of  curbing  and  paving  said  Woodland 
Street  or  Darby  Avenue,  along  the  front  of  said  property  now  being 
curbed  and  paved,"  which  was  agreed  to. 

The  question  being  on  the  section  as  amended,  Mr.  Duffy  moved 
to  further  amend  by  striking  out  the  words  "  eight  thousand  dollars  " 
and  inserting  in  their  place  the  words  "  fifteen  thousand  dollars." 


288  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals, 

Mr.  McHvain  moved  to  amend  the  motion  by  striking  out  the 
words  "  fifteen  thousand  dollars  "  and  inserting  into  their  place  the 
words  "  thirtj^  thousand  dollars." 

On  Mr.  Mcllvain's  motion  the  vote  was  :  Yeas,  Messrs.  Duffy, 
Fox,  Harkness,  Hodgdon,  Hookey,  Hopkins,  McCall,  McCutcheon, 
McHvain,  Shallcross  and  Shermer— ii.  Nays,  Messrs.  Arm- 
strong, Bumm,  Cattell,  Cramer,  Franciscus,  Jones,  Kamerly,  Ker- 
sey, King,  Marcus,  Morison,  Plumly,  Ritchie,  Smith  and  Stokley, 
President — 15.     vSo  it  was  not  agreed  to. 

On  the  motion  to  amend  by  inserting  fifteen  thousand  in  place 
of  eight  thousand  the  vote  was  :  Yeas,  Messrs.  Duffy,  Fox,  Hark- 
ness, Hodgdon,  Hookey,  Hopkins,  Kamerly,  McCall,  McCutcheon, 
McHvain,  Plumly,  Shallcross,  Shermer  and  Stokley,  President — 14. 
Nays,  Messrs.  Armstrong,  Bumm,  Cattell,  Cramer,  Franciscus, 
Kersey,  King,  Marcus,  Morison,  Ritchie  and  Smith — 11.  So  the 
amendment  was  agreed  to. 

The  question  being  on  the  section  as  amended,  Mr.  McCall 
moved  to  further  amend  by  adding:  ^^  And  provided  also^  That  if 
any  portion  of  said  ground  should  be  offered  for  sale  by  the  said 
University,  then  and  in  that  case,  the  portion  so  offered  for  sale 
shall  revert  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  at  the  original  price  paid  to 
the  City  by  the  said  University."     This  was  agreed  to. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Cattell  further  consideration  of  the  bill  was 
postponed  until  the  next  meeting. 

On  November  25th  the  bill  was  again  considered,  when  Mr. 
McHvain  moved  to  amend  by  striking  out  the  words  "  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars,''  and  inserting  the  words  "  twenty  thousand  dollars  " 
in  their  place.     The  call  of  the  roll  was : 

Yeas :  Messrs.  Barlow,  Fox,  Hodgdon,  Hookey,  Hopkins, 
Kamerly,  McCall,  McHvain,  Shallcross  and  Shermer — 10. 

Nays :  Messrs.  Armstrong,  Bumm,  Cattell,  Cramer,  Francis- 
cus, Jones,  King,  McCutcheon,  Marcus,  Plumly,  Ritchie,  Smith 
and  Stokley,  Pres't — 13. 

So  the  motion  was  not  agreed  to. 

The  question  being  on  the  section  as  amended,  the  vote  was  : 

Yeas:  Messrs.   Armstrong,  Barlow,  Bumm,   Cattell,   Cramer, 


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O 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  289 

Franciscus,  Harkness,  Hookey,  Jones,  Kamerl}^,  King,  McCutch- 
eon,  Marcus,  Pliimly,  Ritchie,  Smith  and  Stokley,  Pres't — 17. 

Nays:  Messrs.  Fox,  Hodgdon,  Hopkins,  McCall,  Mcllvain, 
Shallcross  and  Shermer — 7. 

The  section  as  amended  was  adopted. 

The  second  section  and  the  title  were  agreed  to,  and  the  bill 
was  read  a  third  time  and  passed  finally. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  all  of  the  members  voted  for  the  bill  as 
amended,  making  the  price  fifteen  thousand  dollars  per  acre, 
except  seven  of  those  who  had  voted  to  make  it  twenty  thousand 
dollars. 

The  bill  went  back  to  Common  Council  for  concurrence  in  the 
amendments.  When  it  was  called  up  for  consideration,  Mr.  Shoe- 
maker moved  to  amend  by  striking  out  the  words  "  fifteen  thousand 
dollars"  and  inserting  in  their  place  the  words  "eight  thousand 
dollars,''  and  to  also  strike  out  the  two  provisos. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Hetzell,  the  further  consideration  of  the  bill 
was  postponed  and  made  the  special  order  for  the  next  meeting  at 
five  o'clock,  P.  M. 

When  it  was  called  up  at  the  next  meeting  it  was  again 
postponed. 

On  December  9th  it  was  considered.  The  question  being  upon 
the  motion  to  amend  by  striking  out  "  fifteen  thousand  dollars  " 
and  inserting  "  eight  thousand  dollars,"  and  to  strike  out  the  two 
provisos. 

The  motion  was  agreed  to  by  a  vote  of  26  to  19. 

The  bill  was  passed  as  amended  and  again  went  back  to  Select 
Council. 

On  December  i6th,  Select  Council  proceeded  to  consider  the 
amendments  of  Common  Council.  They  were  read,  and  Mr.  Fran- 
ciscus moved  to  concur.  Upon  the  vote  to  concur,  the  yeas  were 
Messrs.  Armstrong,  Bumm,  Cochran,  Cramer,  Franciscus,  Hookey, 
Jones,  Kersey,  King,  McCutcheon,  Marcus,  Morison,  Plumly, 
Ritchie  and  Smith — 15. 

The  nays  were  Messrs.  Duffy,  Harkness,  Hodgdon,  Hopkins, 
Mcllvain,  Shallcross,  Shermer  and  Barlow,  Pres't /r^?  tevi. — 8. 
19 


290  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

So  the  motion  to  concur  was  agreed  to,  and  Mayor  Fox  ap- 
proved the  bill  on  December  iStb,  1869. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  December  i8th,  1869, 
directing  and  authorizing  the  City  Solicitor  to  prepare  deeds  of 
dedication  for  the  following  streets,  so  far  as  they  lie  within  the 
Blockley  Almshouse  grounds,  viz  :  Locust  Street,  sixty  (60)  feet 
wide  ;  Spruce  Street,  eighty  (80)  feet  wide  ;  Pine  Street,  seventy  (70) 
feet  wide  ;  Thirty-fourth  Street,  seventy  (70)  feet  wide  ;  also  Thirty- 
second,  Thirty- third.  Thirty-sixth  and  Thirty-seventh.  Streets, 
each  with  a  width  of  sixty  (60)  feet. 

On  July  7th,  1870,  Councils  appropriated  $70,000  for  the 
enlargement  of  the  buildings  of  the  Insane  Department.  Wings 
were  added,  running  at  right  angles  witli  the  main  building,  in  the 
rear  of  both,  the  male  and  female  ends.  They  were  three  stories  in 
height,  with,  cell-rooms  on  each  side,  and  furnished  accommodations 
for  about  180  patients. 

Another  change  in  the  method  of  selecting  the  members  of  the 
Board  of  Guardians  was  made  in  1871,  when  the  Legislature 
passed  an  Act  which  took  the  power  of  appointment  from  the 
Judges  of  the  Courts  and  authorized  Councils  to  elect  four  mem- 
bers each  year  thereafter,  one  of  whom  should  be  selected  from  the 
minority  party. 

Dr.  William  Pepper  resigned  from  the  position  of  Curator 
November  27th,  187 1,  and  Dr.  James  Tyson  was  elected  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 

An  Ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  May  i8th,  1872,  which 
read  as  follows,  viz  : 

"An  Ordinance  authorizing  the  sale  and  conveyance  of  a  tract 
of  land  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  for  hospital  purposes. 

"  Whereas,  An  application  has  been  made  to  the  Councils  of 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  by  members  of  the  Medical  Faculty  and 
Board  of  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  with  other 
citizens,  for  the  grant  and  conveyance  to  the  said  Trustees  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  of  a  tract  of  land  now  the  property  of 
the  City,  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  thereon  a  hospital  and  build- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  291 

ings  pertaining  to  the  instruction  to  be  there  given  ;  and  in  consid- 
eration thereof,  the  said  Trustees  have  agreed  that  the  said  tract  of 
land,  when  so  conveyed,  shall  never  be  alienated  from  the  said 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  and  to  erect  and  maintain  forever  on 
said  ground  a  general  hospital  containing  at  least  fifty  free  beds, 
for  the  care  and  relief  of  the  poor  in  times  of  sickness  or  accident ; 
and 

"  Whereas,  We,  the  Councils  of  said  City,  believe  that  the 
proposed  object  is  one  of  the  purest  benevolence,  and  a  wise  dis- 
position of  the  property  of  the  citizens  entrusted,  to  our  keeping ; 
therefore : 

"  Section  i.  The  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  Philadel- 
phia do  ordain.  That  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  five 
hundred  dollars  ($500)  in  cash,  to  be  paid  to  the  Commissioners 
of  the  Sinking  Fund  of  the  City,  and  the  covenants  and  condi- 
tions hereinafter  set  forth,  to  be  kept  and  performed  by  the  Trus- 
tees of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  that  the  Mayor  be  and  he 
is  hereby  authorized  to  sign,  seal,  acknowledge  and  deliver  on 
behalf  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  the  necessary  and  proper  deed 
of  conveyance,  whereby  all  that  certain  tract  or  piece  of  land,  sit- 
uate in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward,  bounded  on  the  north  by  the 
middle  line  of  Spruce  street,  on  the  east  by  that  of  Thirty-fourth 
street,  on  the  south  by  that  of  Pine  street,  and  on  the  west  by  that 
of  Thirty-sixth  street,  containing  five  and  a  half  acres,  more  or 
less,  shall  be  sold,  granted  and  conveyed  unto  the  said  Trustees  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  their  successors,  in  fee  simple, 
in  trust,  for  and  subject  however  to  the  following  uses,  covenants 
and  conditions,  to  wit : 

"  First — That  the  said  tract  or  piece  of  land  shall  be  forever 
held  by  the  said  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  for 
the  purpose  of  erecting  thereon  and  maintaining  a  building  or 
buildings,  to  be  devoted  to  general  hospital  purposes  as  aforesaid. 

"  Second — That  the  said  Trustees  shall  erect  and  complete  the 
said  building  within  five  years  from  the  first  day  of  July,  A.  D. 
1872. 

Third — That  the  said  Trustees  shall  set  apart  and  forever 


292  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


maintain  in  said  hospital,  at  no  time  less  tlian  fifty  free  beds,  for 
the  use  of  the  poor  of  the  City  requiring  hospital  treatment. 

"  Fourth — That  the  said  Trustees  shall  report  to  Councils  in 
the  month  of  January  succeeding  the  erection  and  completion  of 
said  hospital,  and  annually  thereafter,  the  number  of  free  beds 
maintained,  together  with  such  information  as  may  be  desired  by 
Councils. 

"  Fifth — That  in  the  event  of  the  failure  of  said  Trustees  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania  to  erect  and  complete  said  hospital 
building  within  five  years  from  the  first  day  of  July,  A.  D.  1872, 
or  upon  said  completion  they  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to  set  apart 
and  forever  maintain  at  all  times,  not  less  than  fifty  free  beds  for 
the  poor  of  the  City,  when  requiring  hospital  treatment ;  or  shall 
sell  or  alienate  the  said  tract  or  piece  of  land  hereby  authorized  to 
be  conveyed  to  them,  or  any  part  thereof,  then  such  sale  and  alien- 
ation by  said  Trustees  shall  be  null  and  void,  and  the  tract  or  piece 
of  land  hereby  authorized  to  be  conveyed  to  them,  with  the  build- 
ing or  buildings  thereon  erected,  shall  revert  to,  and  again  become 
the  property  and  estate  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia. 

"Section  2.  That  the  covenants  and  conditions  set  forth  in 
the  first  section  of  this  ordinance,  shall  be  fully  recited  in  and 
made  a  part  of  the  deed  and  conveyance,  to  be  executed  by  and 
between  the  Mayor  on  behalf  of  the  City,  and  the  Trustees  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania. 

"  Section  3.  That  all  ordinances  or  parts  thereof,  so  far  as 
the  same  may  be  inconsistent  with  the  provisions  of  this  ordinance, 
be  and  the  same  are  hereby  repealed."  ' 

The  terms  of  the  ordinance  must  have  been  satisfactory  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  University,  as  they  sent  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Coun- 
cils on  the  4th  of  June,  1872,  "for  their  very  liberal  grant  of 
land,  and  accepted  the  ground  on  the  conditions  named  in  the 
ordinance." 

Councils  appropriated  another  piece  of  the  Almshouse  for  a 
station  house  for  the  Twenty-first  Police  District.  This  property 
was  on  the  angle  formed  by  Spruce  Street  and  Woodland  Avenue  at 
Thirty-seventh  Street.    It  contained  in  front  on  Woodland  Avenue 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  293 

i8o  feet  and   g}^   inches,  and  on  Spruce   Street,  175  feet  and  5^ 
inches. 

In  September,  1872,  Councils,  by  resolution,  appointed  a  joint 
committee  to  consider  the  advisability  of  establishing  a  City  Found- 
ling Asylum,  but  nothing  appears  to  have  been  done  afterwards. 

The  Directors  of  the  Pennsylvania  Institution  for  the  Deaf 
and  Dumb  made  application  for  the  grant  of  six  acres  of  the  Alms- 
house ground  to  erect  buildings  thereon,  but  no  action  was  taken 
upon  the  request,  except  to  table  it. 

Council  Committee  on  Retrenchment  and  Reform  presented 
the  following  report  in  June,  1873  : 

"  The  Committee  respectfully  report  that  they  have  considered 
a  resolution  of  instruction  to  this  Committee,  to  consider  the  pro- 
priety of  the  transfer  of  the  Almshouse  to  the  House  of  Correc- 
tion farm,  cost  of  new  buildings  to  accommodate  the  Almshouse 
purposes,  and  what'  can  be  realized  from  the  sale  of  the  property 
and  buildings  now  occupied  for  Almshouse  purposes,  respectfully 
report  that  they  have  carefully  considered  the  subject,  having 
visited  the  grounds  of  the  House  of  Correction  in  conjunction 
with  the  Managers  of  the  House  of  Correction  and  Guardians  of 
the  Poor. 

"  It  is  evident  that  the  time  has  come  when  some  site  more 
removed  from  the  built  up  portions  of  the  City  should  be  selected 
for  an  Almshouse,  and  other  institutions  of  a  like  nature,  and  your 
Committee  is  not  aware  of  any  other  location  so  desirable  as  the 
House  of  Correction  grounds,  in  the  Twenty-third  Ward. 

"  Placing  these  institutions  in  one  place  will  be  both  economi- 
cal and  convenient,  and  likewise  efficient,  bringing  them  under  a 
more  direct  and  immediate  supervision  ;  and  if  such  institutions 
deteriorate  the  value  of  property  in  their  vicinity,  as  has  been 
alleged,  that  deterioration  has  already  taken  place  by  the  erection 
of  a  House  of  Correction. 

"  If  it  should  become  necessary  to  procure  more  ground  for 
the  Almshouse  purposes,  it  could  be  procured  cheaper  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  House  of  Correction  than  anywhere  else,  and  by 
placing  these   institutions  there,  it  will  protect   the  citizens  with 


294  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

their  grounds,  from  deterioration  in  other  localities.  The  Com- 
mittee, therefore,  submit  the  annexed  Ordinance  to  provide  for  the 
removal  of  the  Almshouse,  and  recommend  its  passage." 

The  Ordinance  provided  for  the  removal  of  the  Almshouse  to 
the  House  of  Correction  grounds,  "  as  soon  as  suitable  buildings 
can  be  erected  to  accommodate  its  inmates,  and  the  Chief  Engineer 
and  Surveyor  is  hereby  instructed  to  advertise  for  plans  and  speci- 
fications for  the  building  of  a  new  Almshouse  on  said  grounds, 
said  plans  and  specifications  to  be  approved  by  Councils,  and  the 
following  premiums  shall  be  paid  :  For  the  best  plan,  fifteen  hun- 
dred dollars  ;  second  best  plan,  one  thousand  dollars,  and  third  best 
plan,  five  hundred  dollars.  And  he  is  also  hereby  directed  to  lay 
out  in  building  lots  of  suitable  size,  all  the  present  Almshouse 
grounds,  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward,  lying  north  and  west  of  the 
present  Almshouse  buildings,  and  submit  plans  to  Councils." 

The  ordinance  was  passed  by  Common  Council,  but  in  the 
Select  Chamber  it  was  referred  to  the  Finance  Committee  and  that 
was  the  last  of  it. 

The  grounds  and  buildings  would  doubtless  have  brought 
enough  to  have  paid  for  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  and  thus 
saved  a  large  sum  to  the  City,  but  for  some  reason  that  was  not  to 
be  accomplished. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

COMMITTEE  TO  INVESTIGATE  CHARGES  OF  MALADMINISTRATION 
AND  CORRUPT  PRACTICES. 


M 


R.  MARSHALL  HENZEY  tendered  his   resignation  as 

Steward    on    the    24th   of  Februar}^,   1873,  after   having 

served    in    that    capacity  for    a    period    of   fifteen    years. 

Major  Ellis  P.  Phipps,  who  in  the  morning  resigned  his 

position  as  Chief  Clerk  in  the  U.  S.  Appraisers'  Office,  and  in  the 

afternoon,  as  a  member  of  the   Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor, 

was  unanimously  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

An  Ordinance  was  passed  to  appropriate  a  portion  of  the 
Almshouse  grounds,  bounded  by  Pine  Street,  Woodland  Avenue 
and  Thirty-sixth  Street,  to  the  Highway  Department,  to  be  used  as 
a  yard  for  storing  material  for  the  use  of  that  department.  It  was 
inclosed  and  a  tool  house  erected. 

A  bill  was  passed  by  the  Legislature  to  provide  for  the  re- 
moval of  the  Almshouse.  Councils  passed  a  resolution  requesting 
the  Governor  to  withhold  his  signature  from  it,  as  "  Councils  were 
moving  in  the  matter  to  be  accomplished. 

The  House  of  Correction,  established  principally  to  relieve 
the  Almshouse  of  the  vagrants,  was  opened  for  admissions  on  the 
15th  day  of  January,  1874.  At  that  time  there  were  4,597  inmates 
in  the  Almshouse,  according  to  the  reports,  1,150  of  whom  were 
classed  as  vagrants.  At  the  end  of  the  year  the  number  dropped 
to  3,972  with  421  vagrants. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  great  increase  of  expenditures  at 
about  this  time.  In  1873,  before  the  House  of  Correction  was 
started,  the  average  population  of  the  Almshouse  was  4,069,  and 
the  cost  of  maintenance  was  $444,929.04  ;  in  1874,  with  an  average 
population  of  3,764,  a  decrease  of  305,  it  required  $529,513.26,  an 
increase  of  $84,584.22. 

After  one  year's  experience  with  the  House  of  Correction,  the 
appropriations  for  1875  were — for  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor, 
$529,408.62  and  for  the  House  of  Correction,  $378,298 — making  a 

295 


596  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

total  of  $1,007,706.62,  although  the  population  of  the  Almshouse 
had  been  reduced  to  3,658.  Included  in  the  appropriation  to  the 
Almshouse  was  an  item  of  $50,000  to  build  five  wooden  pavilions 
for  the  use  of  the  Hospital  and  Insane  Departments.  They  did 
not  remain  long ;  when  they  were  removed  brick  buildings  were 
erected  in  their  stead,  much  better,  and  at  a  cost  of  considerable 
less  than  $10,000  each.  The  appropriations  made  at  that  time 
were  very  liberal. 

A  piece  of  the  marsh  land  of  the  Almshouse  property,  em- 
braced within  the  following  lines  :  "  Beginning  at  a  point  on  the 
eastern  boundary  of  the  said  Almshouse  property  where  the  same 
is  intersected  by  the  southwardly  boundary  line  of  the  right  of  way 
of  the  Junction  Railroad  (said  point  being  44  feet  eastward  of  and 
at  right  angles  to  the  easterly  line  of  Marsden  Street,  from  a  point 
in  the  said  easterly  line  six  feet  southward  of  the  southerly  line  of 
Thirty-first  Street);  thence  southwardly  along  the  several  courses 
of  the  said  easterly  boundary  of  the  Almshouse  property  as  afore- 
said 5O7*/i0  feet,  more  or  less  to  a  point  40  feet  southward  of  the 
centre  line  of  Thirtieth  Street ;  thence  by  and  along  the  southerly 
boundary  line  of  the  right  of  way  of  the  branch  railroad  belonging 
to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  and  between  its  main  line 
at  Haverford  Street  and  its  Delaware  extension  to  its  intersection 
with  the  easterly  line  of  the  right  of  way  of  the  aforesaid  Dela- 
ware extension  of  the  said  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company,  a  dis- 
tance of  2,4808/10  feet ;  thence  northeasterly  along  said  easterly  line 
of  the  right  of  way  of  the  Delaware  extension  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Railroad,  847  feet,  more  or  less,  to  the  southerly  boundary  line  of 
the  right  of  way  of  the  Junction  Railroad,  i,524='%oo  feet,  more  or 
less,  to  the  place  of  beginning;  containing  in  area  9"¥iooo  acres," 
was  sold  at  public  sale  by  M.  Thomas  &  Sons,  Auctioneers,  and 
William  Hasell  Wilson  bid  $14,600  for  it.    The  sale  was  confirmed. 

Dissatisfaction  with  the  management  of  the  Almshouse  was 
manifested  in  the  different  bodies  of  citizens  interested  in  charita- 
ble work.  Rumors  of  all  kinds  seemed  to  be  in  the  air.  At  last  a 
number  of  petitions  were  sent  to  Councils,  in  which  the  signers 
declared  their  belief  that   "great  injury  had  resulted  to  the  in- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  297 

terests  of  the  City  and  to  its  poor  from  the  appointment  of  persons 
to  be  Guardians  of  the  Poor  who  do  not  possess  the  proper  qualifi- 
cations for  that  office. 

"  We  submit  that  the  dictates  of  humanity  and  the  important 
financial  interests  involved  in  the  care  of  the  city's  poor  require 
that  certain  important  qualifications  should  be  kept  in  view  in 
making  these  appointments. 

"  The  Guardians  should  be  men  of  sufficient  leisure  to  give 
ample  and  studious  attention  to  the  duties  of  the  administration  of 
their  department,  and  able  and  willing  to  respond  promptly  to  the 
duties  assumed  by  them, 

"  They  should  be  persons  of  high  character,  and  free  from 
interested  motives ;  of  known  benevolence  and  experience  in 
charitable  work  ;  men  of  large  intelligence  and  capacity  to  study 
practically  the  problems  relating  to  the  best  treatment  of  the  poor, 
their  employment,  their  physical  and  moral  welfare,  and  their  ele- 
vation from  pauperism. 

"  We  earnestly  urge  that  such  considerations  shall  primarily 
govern  the  action  of  Councils  in  the  appointment  of  the  Guardians 
of  the  Poor." 

On  December  ist,  1881,  Mr.  J.  L.  Grim  offered  a  resolution  in 
Common  Council  to  appoint  a  Committee  of  five  members  of  that 
chamber  "  to  investigate  as  to  the  truth  or  falsity  of  the  charges  of 
Maladministration  and  corrupt  practices,"  and  to  enable  the  Com- 
mittee to  get  at  the  facts,  they  were  instructed  to  investigate  the 
entire  management  of  the  Almshouse  and  the  Board  of  Guardians 
of  the  Poor. 

The  resolution  was  adopted  and  Messrs.  Grim,  E.  B.  Morris, 
S.  S.  Hollings worth,  A.  A.  Catanach  and  William  Conway  were 
appointed  as  the  Committee. 

Another  Ordinance  was  passed  and  approved  on  the  24th  day 
of  January,  1882,  to  sell  and  convey  to  the  Trustees  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Pennsylvania  and  their  successors  the  following  de- 
scribed lots  of  land,  being  part  of  the  Almshouse  property,  viz. : 

"  No.  I. — All  that  certain  lot  or  piece  of  ground  situate  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  Ward  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,   beginning   at 


298  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

the  northwest  corner  of  Pine  Street  and  Thirty-sixth  Street,  thence 
extending  westward  along  the  north  side  of  Pine  Street,  one  thous- 
and and  seventy-three  (1,073)  feet  nine  (9)  inches  to  the  south- 
east side  of  Woodland  Avenue,  thence  northeastw^ard  along  the 
same  six  hundred  and  twenty-six  (626)  feet  nine  and  three-quarter 
(9^)  inches  to  the  south  side  of  Spruce  Street,  thence  eastward 
along  the  same  five  hundred'  and  thirty-four  (534)  feet  nine  and 
three-quarter  (9^)  inches  to  the  west  side  of  Thirty-sixth  Street, 
and  thence  southward  along  the  same  three  hundred  and  twenty 
(320)  feet  to  the  north  side  of  Pine  street  and  place  of  beginning. 

"  No.  2. — iVU  that  certain  triangular  lot  or  piece  of  ground 
situate  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
beginning  at  the  corner  formed  by  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street 
and  the  northeast  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue,  thence  extending  east- 
ward along  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street  nine  hundred  and  ninety- 
two  (992)  feet  five  and  three-eighths  (5^s)  inches  to  the  northwest 
side  of  Guardian  Avenue,  thence  southwestward  along  the  same 
seven  hundred  and  eighty-six  (786)  feet  five  and  three-eighths  (5^^) 
inches  to  the  northeast  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue,  and  thence  north- 
westward along  the  same  six  hundred  and  thirty-two  (632)  feet  two 
(2)  inches  to  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street  and  place  of  beginning, 

"  No.  5*. — All  that  certain  lot  or  piece  of  ground  situate  in  the 
Twenty-seventh  Ward  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  beginning  at 
the  corner  formed  by  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street  and  the  south- 
west side  of  Cleveland  Avenue,  thence  extending  southeastward 
along  the  southwest  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue  six  hundred  and 
eighty  (680)  feet  five  and  one-eighth  (51/^)  inches  to  a  a  point,  thence 
southwestward  along  other  ground  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  one 
hundred  (100)  feet  and  five-eighths  (>^)  of  an  inch  to  ground  of 
the  Woodland  Cemetery,  thence  northwestward  along  the  same 
seven  hundred  and  forty-one  (741)  feet  eight  and  seven-eighths 
(8^3)  inches  to  the  southeast  side  of  Woodland  Avenue,  thence  along 
the  same  twenty-nine  (29)  feet  seven  and  three-quarters  (734)  inches 
to  the  south  side  of  Pine  Street,  and  thence  along  the  same  east- 
ward eighty-nine  (89)  feet  one  and  one-quarter  (i>:()  inches  to  the 
southwest  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue  and  place  of  beginning,  reserv. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  299 

ing  thereout  a  ground  rent  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  of  five  hun- 
dred (500)  dollars  per  annum,  redeemable  at  any  time  by  the  pay- 
ment to  the  City  of  the  sum  of  ten  thousand  (10,000)  dollars, 
lawful  money  of  the  United  States,  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said 
land  to  the  said  Trustees  for  the  use  of  the  said  University  of 
Pennsylvania  for  its  authorized  educational  purposes,  and  subject 
to  the  following  conditions,  to  wit : 

"  That  the  said  Trustees  of  the  said  University  of  Pennsyl- 
vania shall  establish  and  forever  maintain  at  least  fifty  (50)  free 
scholarships  of  an  annual  value  of  not  less  than  seven  thousand 
five  hundred  (7,500)  dollars  per  annum,  to  be  awarded  under  such 
conditions  as  may  from  time  to  time  be  deemed  suitable  to  worthy 
and  deserving  students  of  the  Public  Schools  of  Philadelphia : 
Arid  further,  That  they  shall  cause  to  be  made  and  maintained,  on 
the  line  of  Thirty-seventh  Street,  between  Spruce  and  Pine  Streets 
on  the  first  lot  of  said  ground,  a  flagged  footwalk,  open  at  all  times 
to  the  public  :  Aiid  further,  That  said  land  shall  never  be  alienated 
by  the  said  Trustees  without  the  consent  of  the  City  :  And  further, 
That  no  buildings  other  than  for  educational  purposes  shall  ever 
be  erected  thereon  :  And  further,  That  if  Cleveland  Avenue  should 
be  widened  to  a  width  of  one  hundred  feet,  the  said  Trustees  will 
■dedicate  the  land  taken  to  public  use." 

Councils  confirmed  the  sale  of  six  and  two  hundred  and  ninety 
seven  thousandths  acres,  more  or  less,  of  meadow  land  sold  at 
public  sale  by  M.  Thomas  &  Sons,  auctioneers,  February  14th, 
1882,  to  Henry  K.  Fox  for  the  sum  of  eight  thousand  six  hundred 
(8,600)  dollars  cash,  with  a  proviso  "  that  the  Pennsylvania  Rail- 
road Company  enter  into  an  agreement  that  whenever  the  City 
shall  pass  an  Ordinance  to  that  effect  the  said  Company  will  build 
and  maintain  a  proper  and  suitable  bridge  over  Thirtieth  Street, 
at  the  point  where  the  said  railroad  now  or  may  hereafter  cross  said 
Thirtieth  Street." 

A  piece  of  land  adjoining  the  grounds  of  William  C.  Allison, 
ninety  (90)  feet  wide  on  the  east  side  of  Thirtieth  Street  and  ex- 
tending eastwardly  two  hundred  and  ninety-five  feet  to  the  Port 
Warden's  line  in  the  river  Schuylkill,  containing  five  hundred  and 


300  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

seventy-five  thousandths  ("-yiooo)  of  an  acre  was  sold  at  public  sale 
by  the  same  auctioneers  and  on  the  same  day.  It  was  purchased 
by  William  C.  Allison  for  the  sum  of  three  thousand  eight  hun- 
dred (3,800)  dollars.     The  sale  was  confirmed. 

Councils  passed  a  resolution  requesting  the  Trustees  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  to  inform  them  as  to  whether  they  had 
complied  with  the  provisions  of  the  law  of  1872,  by  which  they 
were  to  set  aside  fifty  free  beds  and  also  requesting  them  to  send 
report  at  the  next  meeting  and  also  in  January  next,  in  accordance 
with  the  Act  of  May  18,  1872. 

Dr.  William  Pepper,  Provost  of  the  University,  sent  reply 
under  date  of  June  14th,  1882,  in  which  he  said:  "  In  reply  to  the 
request  to  the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  for  infor- 
mation respecting  the  University  Hospital,  I  have  the  honor  to 
state : 

"  That  the  Trustees  received  from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania 
$200,000,  to  be  expended  in  the  erection  of  a  Hospital,  upon  condi- 
tion that  they  would  raise  $350,000  additional,  and  that  they  would 
maintain  therein  200  beds,  free,  for  all  cases  of  recent  accidents 
occurring  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  :  and  further,  that  the  Trus- 
tees were  allowed  to  purchase  from  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  for  a 
nominal  sum,  the  lot  of  ground  in  West  Philadelphia  on  which  the 
Hospital  now  stands,  on  condition  that  they  would  maintain  therein 
50  free  beds  for  the  use  of  the  sick  of  this  city. 

"  Whereupon,  after  careful  study  of  the  best  plans  of  hospital 
construction,  the  University  Hospital  was  erected  at  a  cost  of 
$285,000,  and  with  a  capacity  of  120  beds. 

''  It  had  been  hoped  that  the  appropriation  received  from  the 
State  would  enable  a  Hospital  containing  240  beds  to  be  immedi- 
ately erected ;  but  the  very  high  prices  of  labor  and  material  pre- 
vailing in  1872-73,  when  the  contracts  were  made,  the  cost  of  the 
building  consumed  the  State  appropriation  and  $85,000  additional,, 
which  latter  sum  was  contributed  by  private  individuals. 

"  The  plans  of  the  University  Hospital,  however,  provide  for 
a  capacity  of  500  beds,  and  it  is  the  intention  of  the  Trustees  tO' 
complete  the   structure  as  soon   as   possible.     During  the  present 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  301 

season  a  new  wing  has  been  constructed,  with  a  capacity  of  80  or 
90  beds,  which  will  raise  the  total  to  above  200. 

"  In  addition  to  $200,000  received  from  the  State  towards  the 
erection  of  the  Hospital,  the  Trustees  have  received  from  private 
individuals,  for  the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  the  Hospital, 
more  than  $500,000,  much  of  which  is  held  as  a  special  trust-fund 
for  the  maintenance  of  free  beds  in  said  Hospital. 

"The  expense  of  maintaining  the  University  Hospital  has 
been,  from  July  27,  1874,  to  June  i,  1882,  $203,180.93. 

"The  pledge  given  to  the  State  has  been  liberally  fulfilled, 
since,  from  the  day  the  doors  of  the  Hospital  were  first  opened, 
every  case  of  accident  or  surgical  injury  brought  to  the  Hospital 
has  been  freely  admitted.  The  number  of  free  patients  treated  in 
the  Hospital  in  eight  years  has  been  3,895,  of  whom  about  three- 
fifths,  or  2,300,  have  been  residents  of  this  City. 

"  At  all  times  the  50  free  beds  pledged  to  the  City  are  avail- 
able, and  that  number  is  frequently  exceeded. 

"  The  Trustees  are  conscious  that  there  have  been  delays  in 
carrying  forward  the  great  undertaking  of  establishing  a  large  and 
fully-endowed  Hospital,  even  as  far  as  it  has  now  progressed.  But 
they  feel  that  all  who  are  familiar  with  the  difiiculties  will  realize 
that  to  have  secured  over  $500,000  from  private  sources  in  nine 
years  ;  to  have  erected  and  maintained  a  Hospital  recognized  as  a 
model  of  such  an  institution  at  a  cost  of  $285,000  for  construc- 
tion, and  over  $25,000  per  annum  for  maintenance,  and  in  which 
5,870  patients  have  been  treated  in  its  wards,  and  over  40,000 
patients  in  its  Dispensary  department,  proves  an  energetic  deter- 
mination to  comply  with  and  to  exceed  all  the  pledges  given  to  the 
State  and  to  the  City.  The  above  facts  make  this  the  more  evident 
when  it  is  noted  that  the  Acts  of  the  Legislature  and  the  Ordi- 
nance of  Council  referred  to  do  not  fix  any  limit  of  time  for  the 
fulfillment  of  these  pledges." 

The  Provost  had  evidently  overlooked  or  had  forgotten  the 
fifth  condition  of  the  Ordinance  which  granted  the  ground.  It 
provided  "That  in  the  event  of  the  failure  to  erect  and  complete 
said  hospital  building  within  five  years  from  the  first  day  of  July, 


302  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

A.  D.  1872,  or  upon  said  completion  they  shall  refuse  or  neglect  to 
set  apart  and  forever  maintain  at  all  times   not  less  than  50  free 

beds  for  the  poor  of  the  City shall  be  null  and  void,  and 

the  tract  or  piece  of  land  hereby  authorized  to  be  conveyed  to  them, 
with  the  building  or  buildings  thereon  erected,  shall  revert  to  and 
again  become  the  property  and  estate  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia." 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

REPORT   OF   INVESTIGATING   COMMITTEE. 

ON  June  i2tli,  1882,  the  .special  committee  appointed  to 
investigate  the  management  of  the  Almshouse  made  a 
lengthy  report,  in  which  it  appeared  that  more  than  30 
meetings  were  held  for  the  examination  of  witnesses, 
and  that  more  than  90  had  been  heard.  About  1,450  pages  of  type- 
written testimony,  apart  from  the  exhibits,  were  taken.  Some  of 
the  Guardians,  as  well  as  the  Superintendent,  were  represented  by 
counsel,  and  were  permitted  to  call  such  witnesses  as  they  desired. 
The  Committee  reported : 

"  First. — We  find  that  the  system  of  keeping  accounts  at  the 
Almshouse  is  one  which  affords  no  sufficient  check  upon  pecula- 
tion ;  that  it  is  so  defective  that  those  in  control  of  the  institution 
or  their  chief  subordinates  can,  if  they  so  desire,  rob  the  city  to 
almost  any  extent.  An  expert  was  employed  to  make  an  examina- 
tion and  he  testified  that  they  kept  no  commercial  account  books 
there ;  so  much  of  a  bill  of  goods  as  belonged  to  a  particular  item 
is  charged  up  against  that  item,  without  detailing  the  goods  pur- 
chased or  their  quantity.  They  kept  no  accounts  of  the  distribu- 
tion of  goods,  and  the  only  way  in  which  they  could  tell,  or  claimed 
to  be  able  to  tell,  whether  any  specific  article  was  exhausted,  was 
by  finding  it  no  longer  in  the  storehouse.  No  one,  he  said,  could 
tell  by  the  books,  a  month  after  entries  were  made,  whether  they 
were  correct  or  not. 

"  The  Storekeeper  testified  that  he  never  balanced  his  books, 
and  they  were  never  audited. 

"  The  man  in  charge  of  the  manufacturing  department  testi- 
fied that  no  invoice  of  stock  had  been  taken  for  three  years,  and 
that  he  could  not  do  it  without  an  invoice  book  ;  and  that  the  invoice 
book  had  been  taken  from  him  by  a  Committee  of  the  Guardians. 

"  Mr.  Huggard,  a  Guardian,  testified  that  the  mode  of  book- 
keeping was  defective,  and  that  there  was  no  way  in  which  the 
delivery  of  900  pounds  in  place  of  1000  pounds  could  be  detected. 

3G3 


304  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"A  number  ot  witnesses  were  examined  on  tlie  subjects  of 
food  and  clothing.  The  inmates  all  complained  that  the  food  was 
insufficient  and  of  bad  quality,  and  poorly  cooked.  This  evidence 
was  hardly  contradicted,  except  in  a  general  way  by  the  Superin- 
tendent who  said,  '  there  was  nothing  to  complain  of.' 

"  The  flour  inspector  refused  to  pass  some  of  the  flour  that 
was  intended  for  the  Almshouse,  as  it  was  unfit  for  human  beings 
to  eat. 

"  It  was  shown  tbat  J.  B.  Myers  (who  was  tben  a  member  of 
Councils)  furnished  butter  and  eggs  to  tbe  Almshouse  worth  from 
one-half  to  two-thirds  the  price  paid  for  them,  and  just  that  much 
below  the  quality  called  for  by  the  contract.  W.  W.  Thompson 
also  furnisbed  butter  of  the  same  qualit}^ 

"  More  than  fifty  persons,  who  had  furnished  supplies,  bad 
been  subpoenaed  but  none  of  them  would  testify. 

"  A  woman,  who  had  been  chief  nurse  of  the  venereal  ward, 
testified  that  in  1881  her  patients  suffered  with  the  cold  ;  that  all 
they  bad  for  breakfast  was  bread  and  coffee,  without  milk  or  sugar, 
and  only  sometimes  witb  butter ;  tbat  for  supper  the  diet  was  the 
same,  except  that  tea  was  substituted  for  coffee.  For  dinner  they 
bad  soup  and  about  as  mucb  meat  as  one  would  give  to  a  twelve- 
year  old  cbild ;  that  they  were  without  butter  for  three  or  four 
months  at  a  time ;  that  the  bread  was  sour  and  bad  ;  that  there 
was  no  regular  service  of  vegetables,  and  they  had  for  the  ward, 
containing  from  25  to  30  patients,  an  allowance  of  half-a-dozen  eggs 
per  day. 

"  The  story  of  the  inmates  was  in  its  essential  features  cor- 
roborated by  Mr.  Wells  and  Mr.  Harrah,  gentlemen  well-known  in 
the  community,  and  of  extensive  experience  and  knowledge  of  the 
management  of  public  institutions. 

"  Mr.  Wells  said  the  food  and  clothing  were  insufiicient,  and 
the  quality  of  the  food  injurious.  Mr.  Harrah  found  the  bread  in 
the  hospital  sour,  the  babies  bottles  unwashed,  and  the  institution 
the  worst  managed  that  he  had  ever  seen. 

"  The  man  in  charge  of  the  milkhouse  testified  that  the  milk 
was  skimmed  before  it  was  served,  and  the  fresh  milk  was  mixed 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  305 

with  the  old  milk,  and  often  the  whole  made  sour ;  and  that 
during  the  two  years  he  was  there  he  saw  some  of  the  inmates  of 
the  Old  Men's  Department  without  bedding,  and  without  under 
clothes. 

"  Most  of  the  Guardians  had  very  little  to  say  about  the  food, 
clothing  and  attendance.  The  President  of  the  Board  said  he  knew 
nothing  about  bread,  milk  or  beef,  and  had  heard  no  complaints 
about  clothing.  Mr.  Orr  said  the  butter  was  sometimes  not  up  to 
the  standard,  and  the  bread  was  sometimes  sour.  Mr.  McAleer 
had  seen  bad  flour,  which  he  had  ordered  sent  back.  Mr.  Daly 
said  the  tea  and  coffee  ought  to  be  better,  and  that  the  flour  is 
sometimes  good  and  sometimes  bad,  and  Mr.  Huggard  considered 
the  tea  and  coffee  abominable,  and  the  bread  was  sometimes  sour." 

The  committee  called  attention  to  two  facts  which  were  not 
disputed,  both  of  which  they  considered  was  a  disgrace  to  the 
institution  and  all  who  had  control  of  it.  ''  The  cruelty  permitted 
towards  old  paupers  and  the  insane,  and  the  death  of  all  found- 
lings brought  to  the  place  is  difiicult  to  write  of  with  calmness. 
It  is  in  evidence  and  not  disputed — indeed  Matthew  McNamara,  a 
witness  called  by  the  Guardians,  testified  that  he  was  whipping 
from  eight  to  ten  people  a  day,  when  he  suddenly  went  to  Ireland 
in  April,  1880,  there  being  a  great  many  complaints  against  him. 
He  said  that  his  stick  was  his  best  friend,  that  it  had  a  large  nail 
in  the  end  of  it. 

"  Richard  Penn,  a  policeman,  who  in  1880  was  an  attendant  in 
the  insane  department,  testified  that  he  had  seen  a  man  named 
Michael  Houten,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  sixth  ward,  frequently 
knock  down  old  insane  people.  He  said  he  complained  to  Major 
Phipps,  but  no  improvement  was  made,  and  he  (Penn)  M-as  finally 
discharged  for  making  complaints. 

"  The  death  of  all  the  foundlings  brought  into  the  children's 
department  was  attempted  to  be  accounted  for  by  Dr.  Montgomery 
and  the  matron  in  charge  on  the  theory  that  they  were  either  so 
drugged  or  diseased  when  they  got  them  that  they  could  not  be 
kept  alive.  The  answer  to  this  is  the  fact  that  when,  in  1881,  the 
thirty  survivors  out  of  sixty-six  were  received  by  the  Society  for 

20 


306  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Prevention  of  Cruelty  to  Children,  of  those  taken  care  of  by  the 
Society  not  one  died. 

"  The  testimony  of  Mr.  Crew,  President  of  the  Society,  and 
Mr.  Harrah,  who  investigated  this  matter,  is  that  the  deaths  of 
these  infants  was  due  to  ignorance  and  neglect. 

"  That  such  barbarous  cruelty  should  be  allowed  in  any  civil- 
ized community  is  almost  incredible,  and  yet  the  Superintendent  of 
this  institution  and  the  President  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  find 
nothing  in  regard  to  which  they  desire  a  change,  unless  it  is  in 
the  smallness  of  the  appropriations. 

"  There  can  be  no  right  feeling  person  in  this  community  who 
does  not  feel  that  he  himself  will  in  some  degree  be  responsible 
for  the  continuance  of  such  outrages,  and  it  is  the  earnest  hope  of 
this  committee  that,  whatever  action  Councils  may  take  on  this 
report,  they  will  at  least  take  such  measures  as  will  render  impos- 
sible, in  any  of  the  institutions  of  this  City,  the  beating  of  the 
poor,  the  crippled  and  the  afflicted,  and  the  abandonment  of  help- 
less infants  to  die  for  want  of  ordinary  care." 

The  committee  urged  the  necessity  of  separating  the  hospital 
from  the  Almshouse,  using  the  argument  that  very  few  people  are 
wdlling  to  go  there  for  treatment,  feeling  that  it  involves  being 
classed  as  a  pauper,  and  it  was  recommended  that  the  pauper 
element  be  placed  elsewhere,  leaving  the  Almshouse  buildings  for 
hospital  purposes. 

"The  Committee  found  as  a  fact  from  the  evidence,  that  the 
appropriations  made  for  the  Guardians  had  been  to  some  extent, 
how  far  could  not  be  stated,  diverted  from  the  purposes  for  which 
they  were  made,  and  had  not  been  strictly  accounted  for.  War- 
rants, signed  by  the  President  and  Secretary  of  the  Board,  appear 
to  have  been  drawn  for  supplies  which  never  reached  the  Alms- 
house, or  at  least  were  never  distributed  there ;  and  also  for 
goods  at  a  price  higher  than  the  market  rate  for  the  goods 
delivered. 

"  The  evidence  showed  that  supplies  were  regularly  taken  from 
the  Almshouse  and  not  accounted  for. 

"One  of  the  of&cials  received  from  six  to  twelve  pounds   of 


fWT     " 


S    ~]£  _    f  r 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  307 

butter  twice  a  week,  made  from  the  cream  skimmed  from  the  Alms- 
house milk.     He  also  took  meat. 

"  The  receipts  from  the  sale  of  empty  packages,  such  as  bar- 
rels, boxes,  etc.,  fell  off  from  $1,182.67  i^^  ^^^73  to  $150  in  1879. 
This  could  not  be  explained.  The  supplies  were  no  less,  or,  to 
speak  more  accuratelj^,  the  supplies  luliich  are  paid  for  are  no  less, 
and  presumably  the  packages  in  which  they  are  contained  are  no 
fewer.  The  market  prices  of  the  articles  were  not  shown  to  be 
lower.  The  onl}^  explanation  of  the  shortage  in  the  receipts  is  that 
this  property  of  the  City  is  either  given  away  or  sold  and  the 
proceeds  not  turned  in. 

''A  Mr.  Moore  bid  to  furnish  certain  brushes  at  $128.40;  he 
did  not  get  the  contract.  Shortl}^  afterwards  lie  sold  similar  goods 
to  Mr.  Coyle,  who  was  not  in  the  business,  who  supplied  them  to 
the  Almshouse  at  an  advance  of  $79.20  over  Moore's  bid. 

"  Jacob  vSchleigh  was  a  produce  dealer,  lie  w^as  a  clerk  for  W.  W. 
Thompson  when  Thompson  had  a  contract  to  furnish  butter  to  the 
Almshouse.  The  butter  furnished  w-as  worth  about  two-thirds  of  the 
contract  sample ;  it  was  delivered  early  in  the  year,  and  Schleigh 
continued  to  ask  for  the  warrant,  without  getting  it  until  tke  ensu- 
ing fall.  Major  Phipps  was  written  to  several  times  about  it. 
Schleigk  then  w^ent  to  the  Controller's  ofBce,.  and  found  that  the 
warrant  had  been  paid  within  four  weeks  after  the  delivery  of  the 
butter.  Schleigh  then  visited  the  office  of  the  Guardians  on 
Seventh  street,  and  was  told  that  no  warrant  had  come  for  him. 
He  related  what  lie  had  learned  at  the  Controller's  office,  and  re- 
ceived the  money  from  the  Penn  National  Bank,  where  two  gentle- 
men, one  of  them  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board,  had  driven  him  for 
that  purpose.  He  was  requested  to  not  return  to  the  Controller's, 
and  he  did  not. 

''  Controller  Pattison  testified  that  in  February,  1882,  Mr. 
McFetrich,  of  the  firm  of  Rocklean  &  IMcFetrich,  called  upon  him 
to  see  about  getting  the  money  for  liquors  supplied  to  the  Alms- 
house. It  was  discovered  that  the  warrant,  which  was  for  $186.00, 
had  been  paid  in  February,  1881.  Mr.  McFetrich  then  produced  a 
due  bill   given   by  Major  Phipps  for  this  amount,  dated  January 


308  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

1882.  Subsequently  McFetricli  and  Phipps  called  together,  and 
the  latter  said  that  the  warrant  had  been  given  to  the  wrong  man 
by  mistake,  and  he  had  assumed  the  debt. 

"  The  foreman  of  the  carpenter  shop  at  the  Almshouse  testi- 
fied that  his  wages  for  one  month  in  1879  and  for  four  months  in 
1880  were  not  paid  until  January,  1881,  when,  after  being  impor- 
tuned very  often  for  payment.  Major  Phipps  finally  gave  him  an 
order  for  the  amdunt  due  him,  on  Frederick  Sheeler,  a  grocer  on 
Market  street,  who  supplied  the  institution  with  groceries.  The 
order  was  paid. 

"  An  inventory  was  made  by  several  experts  of  the  carpets  and 
furniture  in  the  institution,  and  when  it  was  compared  with  the 
books  in  the  Controller's  of&ce,  which  showed  the  amounts  pur- 
chased, there  was  found  to  be  a  deficiency  of  about  3,000  yards  of 
carpet,  which  had  been  entered  as  costing  from  75  cents  to  $1.00 
per  yard. 

"  A  schedule  was  prepared  by  an  expert  showing  the  amount 
purchased  and  paid  for  by  the  city,  and  the  amount  consumed  as 
per  the  diet  card  allowance  of  tea,  coffee,  sugar  and  meat  in  the 
year  1881 ;  it  showed  a  balance  unaccounted  for  of  25,961  pounds 
of  tea,  258,452  pounds  of  coffee  and  rye  mixed,  72,449  pounds  of 
sugar  and  424,667  pounds  of  meat.  The  committee  also  had  a 
schedule  showing  the  amount  of  flour  purchased  and  paid  for  by 
the  city  in  1865,  when  the  population  of  the  Almshouse  was  about 
the  same  as  during  188 1,  which  showed  that  while  4,296  barrels 
were  suf&cient  in  1865,  it  required  6,999  barrels  in  1881.  The 
amount  of  tea  and  coffee  paid  for  shows  that  it  required  three 
times  as  much  tea  and  eight  times  as  much  coffee  in  1881  as  it  did 
in  1865. 

"  The  Controller  testified  that  an  item  under  the  head  of 
House  receipts,  representing  money  received  at  the  Almshouse 
from  various  sources,  and  which  was  payable  into  the  City  Treas- 
ury monthly,  had  been  omitted  from  the  returns  for  the  years  1876, 
1877  and  1878.  He  wrote  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Guard- 
ians and  afterwards  to  the  President,  calling  their  attention  to  this 
fact  and  asking  explanation,  but  received  none. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  309 

"  He  called  the  attention  of  Councils  to  the  fact  and  gave 
notice  that  the  money  must  be  paid.  This  money  was  finally 
recovered,  amounting  to  $26,398.51,  according  to  the  account 
presented,  and  paid  to  the  City  Treasurer.  The  explanation  given 
by  Major  Phipps  and  the  President  was  that  the  appropriations  fell 
short  for  those  years,  and  that  the  Guardians  had  authorized  the 
Superintendent  to  use  the  money  for  the  ordinary  needs  of  the 
house.  Major  Phipps  presented  to  the  Controller  receipts  purport- 
ing to  show  that  he  had  paid  the  money  monthly  to  Mr.  Lane,  the 
Treasurer  of  the  Board. 

"  Mr.  Lane  testified  that  he  never  received  any  portion  of  the 
money  until  immediately  prior  to  his  settlement  with  the  Con- 
troller in  June,  1879.  Mr.  Lane  stated  that  in  1876  the  appropria- 
tion ran  short,  and  that  the  Board  of  Guardians  gave  its  sanction 
to  an  arrangement  by  Avhich  certain  contractors  were  to  supply  the 
goods  required,  and  take  their  cbances  of  getting  their  bills  paid 
by  Councils.  That  Councils  refused  to  make  an  appropriation  for 
this  purpose,  and  that  Major  Phipps,  with  the  knowledge  of  the 
Guardians  appropriated  the  House  receipts  for  the  payment  of 
these  claims,  and  that  when  the  Controller  insisted  upon  the  money 
being  paid  into  the  City  Treasury,  Phipps  induced  the  contractors 
Mathews  and  Toy  to  return  the  money ;  that  it  was  then  for  the 
first  time  handed  to  Mr.  Lane,  who  at  once  paid  it  into  the  City 
Treasury.  No  official  action  of  the  Board  was  shown  in  relation 
to  the  misappropriation  of  this  large  amount  of  money,  but  unfor- 
tunately for  the  explanation  given  the  annual  reports  of  the  Board 
show  that  the  appropriations  for  the  years  mentioned  did  not  run 
short,  as  there  was  an  unexpended  balance  on  December  31st,  1876, 
of  $i»773-i9  and  on  December  31st,  1877,  there  remained  to  their 
credit  $1,344.96. 

"  The  evidence,  in  the  opinion   of  the  Committee,  established 
these  facts  : 

"  I.  Goods  have  been  furnished  the  Almshouse  of  a  quality 
from  33  to  50  per  cent,  less  in  value  than  the  contract  samples. 

"  2.  Goods  have  been  paid  for  as  furnished  which  have  never 
been  delivered. 


310  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"3.  Goods  which  had  been  delivered  had  been  taken  away  and 
not  accounted  for. 

"4.  Warrants  have  been  collected  by  others  than  those  to 
whom  they  belonged,  and  the  money  retained  until  a  settlement 
could  no  longer  be  delayed. 

"  5.  It  would  seem,  though  the  fact  is  only  shown  in  a  single 
case,  that  Major  Phipp's  obligations  were  held  by  contractors 
whose  warrants  were  overdue,  and  had  been  collected  but  not  by 
themselves. 

"These  facts  not  only  justify  the  finding  of  the  Committee 
but  make  any  other  finding  impossible.  There  is  no  evidence  to 
show  that  any  of  the  Guardians  in  any  way  participated  in  the 
misappropriation  of  the  funds  which  should  have  gone  to  support 
the  Almshouse. 

"  The  retention  of  the  House  receipts  by  the  Superintendent 
for  the  years  1876-7-8  was  sanctioned  by  Mr.  Chambers  and  ac- 
quiesced in  by  Messrs.  Gill  and  Orr.  The  explanation  given,  that 
it  was  necessary  to  meet  the  expenses  of  the  house,  appears  to  be 
untrue.  In  view  of  the  failure  of  these  gentlemen  to  give  any 
further  explanation,  the  Committee  recommends  that  they  be  re- 
quested to  resign.  Mr.  Stewart  and  Mr.  Keyser  having  been  at 
the  institution  but  a  short  time,  the  Committee  have  no  positive 
fault  to  find  with  them.  The  remaining  Guardians,  except  Mr- 
Jarden  who  has  just  been  elected,  and  Messrs.  Huggard  and  Daly, 
do  not  seem  to  properly  understand  the  responsibilities  of  their 
positions.  They  have  seen  that  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse 
were  neither  properly  fed,  clothed,  nor  cared  for ;  or  if  they  have 
not  they  ought  to  have  done  so,  and  yet  they  have  taken  no  steps 
to  rectify  those  abuses. 

"  The  Committee  would  feel  it  their  duty  to  include  Mr.  Daly 
also  in  this  criticism  had  he  not  wakened  up,  even  at  the  last 
moment,  and  been  very  zealous  in  assisting  the  Committee  in  their 
investigation.  These  gentlemen,  with  exceptions  already  men- 
tioned, have  in  the  opinion  of  the  Committee,  all  been  too  indolent 
and  careless  in  attending  to  the  duties  of  their  position  to  be  re- 
tained there,  and  the  Committee  recommend  that  they  are,  with  the 


History  of  Pliiladelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  311 

exception  of  Messrs.  Jarden,  Daly,  Stewart,  Keyser  and  Huggard, 
requested  to  resign. 

"  Over  Major  Phipps,  Councils  have  no  control.  He  is  not 
elected  by  them,  and  is  not  responsible  directly  to  them.  It  is 
eminently  proper,  however,  for  them  to  make  a  recommendation  in 
regard  to  him  to  the  Board  of  Guardians. 

"  The  Committee  appreciate  all  that  has  been  said  by  the 
medical  staff  of  the  Almshouse  about  Major  Phipps'  executive 
ability,  but  they  are  of  opinion  that  the  facts  developed  before 
them,  in  regard  to  his  relations  with  the  contractors,  his  outstand- 
ing notes  held  by  them,  the  delays  in  paying  people  for  whom  war- 
rants had  been  cashed  without  their  knowledge,  his  failure  to 
correct  abuses  of  which  he  could  not  be  ignorant,  demand  impera- 
tively that  he  should  no  longer  be  retained  in  the  position  he  now 
occupies,  and  they  therefore  recommend  his  dismissal." 

"  The  Committee  submit  herewith  a  joint  resolution,  embod}^- 
ing  their  recommendations,  together  with  the  testimony." 

(Signed)         John   L.  Grim,  Chairnia7i. 

S.    S.    HOLLINGSWORTH, 

A.  J.  Maloney, 
Effingham  B.  Morris, 
Adam  A.  Catanach. 

Mr.  Maloney  had  been  substituted  for  Mr.  Conway,  that  gen- 
tleman having  retired  from  Councils. 

Mr.  McAleer,  one  of  the  Guardians,  sent  a  communication  to 
Councils  requesting  that  the  report,  so  far  as  it  related  to  him, 
should  be  returned  to  the  Committee,  in  order  that  he  might  have 
the  opportunity  of  proving  that  he  had  performed  his  duty  as  a 
member  of  the  Board,     He  said  in  part : 

"  It  is  true  that  I  was  unable  to  attend  to  my  duties  for  a 
length  of  time  by  sickness,  3^et  this  was  my  misfortune,  and  not 
my  fault.  As  no  man  charges  me  with  any  sin  of  commission  or 
any  sin  of  omission,  I  think  it  hardly  fair  that  any  reflection 
should  be  cast  on  my  character." 

Upon  the  adoption  of  the  report  and  resolution  of  the  Com- 


312  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

mittee,  the  name  of  Mr.  McAleer  was  added  to  those  to  be  ex- 
cepted from  the  request  to  resign. 

At  this  meeting  an  election  took  place  for  four  Guardians  to  fill 
vacancies  caused  by  the  expiration  of  the  terms  of  four  of  the  old 
Board.  Messrs.  Edward  F.  Hoffman,  John  Ruhl,  Lucien  Moss 
and  William  McAleer  were  chosen. 

During  the  term  of  Major  Phipps  the  title  of  his  position  was 
changed  from  that  of  Steward  to  Superintendent,  and  the  powers 
"were  considerably  enlarged. 

Councils  took  the  usual  summer  recess,  commencing  June  19th. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

TRAINING   vSCHOOL   FOR   NURSES    ESTABLISHED-TERRIBLE    FIRE    IN 
INSANE   DEPARTMENT— SUPERINTENDENT  PHIPPS  ARRESTED. 

A  CONFERENCE  was  held  by  the  new  and  some  of  the  older 
members  of  the  Board  of  Guardians,  and,  after  consider- 
able discussion,  in  order  not  to  appear  as  being  hasty  or 
harsh,  a  committee  of  three  was  appointed  to  wait  on  the 
Superintendent  to  request  and  advise  his  resignation,  the  same  to 
take  effect  on  September   ist,  1882.     After  some  consideration  he 
sent  a  communication  dated  July  3d,  in  which  he  said  : 

"  Gentlemen — In  compliance  with  the  desire  of  the  members 
of  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  expressed  at  the  conference 
ield  on  ist  inst.,  I  hereby  tender  my  resignation  to  take  effect  as 
requested." 

During  the  interval  the  Committee  of  One  Hundred,  citizens 
•organized  to  procure  better  municipal  government,  were  busy  in 
procuring  sufi&cient  evidence  to  enter  a  criminal  suit  against 
liim. 

Mr.  Morris  M.  Mathews  made  affidavit  that  on  or  about  Janu- 
ary ist,  1882,  and  within  nine  months  last  past,  that  "said  Ellis 
P.  Phipps  had  defrauded  the  city  of  a  large  sum  of  money,  to  wit, 
•over  $5,000 ;  that  he  obtained  the  money,  and  also  that  he  had  con- 
spired with  others  to  defraud  the  city  of  large  sums  of  money,  and 
that  he  had  obtained  and  assisted  others  to  obtain  fraudulently  and 
keep  the  money  of  the  city."  He  also  swore  that  Phipps  had 
•drawn  warrants  in  payment  for  goods  which  had  never  been  de- 
livered, and  the  money  had  been  obtained  on  these  warrants. 

Mr.  Mathews  confessed  that  he  had  presented  bills  during  the 
£rst  three  months  of  this  year  for  goods  to  the  amount  of  $7,200, 
•all  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  one  for  $549.94,  were  fictitious, 
yet  upon  which  warrants  were  drawn  by  Major  Phipps,  who  also 
drew  the  money. 

Upon  the  strength  of  this  affidavit  a  warrant  was  issued  and 
Phipps  was  arrested  on  September  ist,  on  the  charge  of  embezzle- 

313 


314  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

nient.  He  was  placed  under  $5,000  bail  for  a  hearing,  W.  Blwood 
Rowan,  a  member  of  Common  Council,  becoming  his  bondsman. 

Before  the  time  set  for  the  hearing  he  absconded  and  his  bail 
was  declared  forfeited.  A  new  warrant  was  issued,  a  description  of 
him  was  sent  to  all  of  the  police  stations  and  orders  for  his  arrest 
were  transmitted. 

A  search  was  made  of  the  house  No.  3419  Walnut  street, 
which  he  occupied,  where  large  quantities  of  all  kinds  of  provisions^ 
dry  goods  and  notions,  taken  from  the  Almshouse,  were  found 
secreted  in  the  cellar  and  locked  in  closets  in  the  rooms.  The 
value  of  the  goods  recovered  was  estimated  at  $5,000.  In  addition 
it  was  discovered  that  he  owed  to  subordinates,  whose  wages  he 
had  retained,  amounts  running  up  into  hundreds  of  dollars.  He 
also  retained  the  House  receipts  of  July  and  August,  amounting 
to  $1,500,  and  for  which  a  demand  had  been  made  upon  him  a  few 
days  before  his  departure.  A  number  of  promissory  notes,  amount- 
ing to  about  $200,000  were  found.     They  were  dated  in  1880  and 

1 88 1.  Some  of  them  had  been  cancelled,  and  were  in  the  names 
of  prominent  politicians  and  contractors. 

Major  Phipps  was  apprehended  on  the  i8th  day  of  September^ 

1882,  in  Hamilton,  Ontario.  Upon  being  fully  identified  he  was 
remanded.  It  was  necessary  to  have  extraditien  papers  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States  to  the  Canadian  government  before 
he  could  be  brought  back  to  this  city,  and  to  obtain  this  object 
charges  of  felony  would  have  to  be  established.  District  Attorney 
Graham  took  the  matter  in  hand  ;  witnesses  were  sent  before  the 
Grand  Jury,  and  when  they  had  been  examined,  three  bills  of  in- 
dictment were  found,  charging  Phipps  with  fraudulently  making 
an  instrument  of  writing  and  uttering  and  publishing  the  same- 
This  constitutes  forgery. 

There  were  several  counts  contained  in  each  bill.  The  first 
charged  that  he,  Phipps,  had  forged  the  name  of  W.  L.  Murphy 
to  a  receipt  for  a  warrant  for  $389  ;  the  others  charged  the  forgery 
of  receipts  for  warrants  in  the  names  of  A.  J.  Bellows  &  Co.  for 
$377.80,  and  Seeds  &  Ferguson  for  $595.  These  warrants  were 
all  paid  by  the  City  Treasurer. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  315 

The  President  issued  the  necessary  papers,  Mr.  Graham  took 
them  to  Canada  and  after  a  long  delay  Phipps  was  surrendered, 
brought  to  this  City,  tried,  convicted,  sentenced,  and  served  a  long 
term  of  imprisonment. 

Major  Thomas  B.  Scarborough  had  been  elected  Superinten- 
dent and  took  charge  of  the  Almshouse  on  the  ist  of  September. 
Several  of  the  employees  of  the  institution  were  arrested,  tried  and 
convicted  on  the  charges  of  larceny  and  conspiracy  to  defraud  the 
City. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  Councils  after  the  recess,  Messrs. 
Lane,  Gill  and  Spering  tendered  their  resignations  as  members  of 
the  Board.  Messrs.  Joseph  Paxson,  William  R.  Chapman  and 
Mark  Balderston  were  elected  in  their  stead. 

The  Board  then  consisted  of  Messrs.  Jarden,  Daly,  Huggard, 
Stewart,  Ruhl,  Keyser,  Hoffman,  Moss,  McAleer,  Paxson,  Chap- 
man and  Balderston.  It  was  organized  by  the  election  of  Mr.  John 
Huggard  as  President  and  Robert  C  Floyd  as  Secretary. 

Mr.  Jarden  resigned  on  November  i6th,  and  General  Louis 
Wagner  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

President  Huggard,  in  his  report  at  the  end  of  the  year,  said 
in  part :  "  For  reasons  that  are  obvious  and  need  no  explanation 
the  report  for  the  first  half  of  the  year  is — with  the  exception  of 
that  portion  relating  to  the  Hospital  for  the  Insane— somewhat 
incomplete,  but  the  facts  have  been  arrived  at  as  nearly  as  possible. 
Upon  the  showing  of  the  last  half  of  the  year  I  congratulate  the 
Board." 

The  new  Superintendent  said  :  "  On  assuming  the  duties  of 
the  institution,  I  need  hardly  remind  you  of  the  disorder  and  con- 
fusion which  characterized  some  of  its  departments.  Although  my 
predecessor  turned  over  no  papers  or  books  pertaining  to  the  duties 
of  the  ofhce,  I  have  nevertheless,  with  your  assistance,  been  able  to 
appreciate  to  a  certain  degree  its  wants." 

An  item  was  inserted  in  the  appropriations  for  the  year  1883, 
to  pay  $555  to  the  paupers  to  repay  the  amounts  belonging  to  them 
which  had  been  taken  by  the  late  Superintendent. 

On  January    4th,   1883,   Mr.    Balderston    resigned    from    the 


316  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Board,  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Zeigler  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy.  Mr. 
Moss  resigned  on  March  8th,  and  Mr.  Richard  C  McMurtrie  was 
elected  in  his  stead. 

Messrs.  Paxson,  Chapman,  Zeigler  and  Daly  were  re-elected 
in  June.  The  Board  was  re-organized  by  the  election  of  Mr. 
Hoffman  as  President  and  Mr.  Floyd  as  Secretary.  Mr.  George 
H.  Smith  was  elected  Superintendent. 

Two  Acts  which  had  an  important  bearing  upon  the  manage- 
ment of  the  Almshouse  were  passed  by  the  Legislature  and 
approved  June  13th,  1883. 

One  of  them  provided  that  children  over  two  years  of  age 
should  not  be  kept  in  the  Almshouses  of  this  State  for  a  longer 
period  than  sixty  days,  unless  they  were  under  medical  treatment. 
It  also  provided  for  their  maintenance  in  homes,  the  expenses  to  be 
borne  by  the  municipalities  in  which  they  belonged. 

This  was  intended  to  be  of  great  benefit ;  it  removed  the  chil- 
dren from  the  Almshouse  surroundings  and  saved  them  from  the 
taint  of  pauperism.  It  gave  them  the  advantages  of  home  care 
and  treatment,  thus  fitting  them  to  become  useful,  self-supporting 
men  or  women. 

Councils  appropriated  $8,000  for  the  first  year  to  "  pay  for  the 
maintenance  of  the  children  sent  to  the  various  homes,"  in  accord- 
ance with  the  Act.  The  number  of  children  under  the  care  of  the 
department  has  so  increased,  since  that  time,  that  it  now  requires 
$20,000  per  annum  for  that  purpose. 

The  other  Act  was  to  provide  for  the  surrender  of  the  bodies 
of  those  who  died  in  the  Almshouse,  etc.,  to  the  Anatomical  Board 
for  dissection. 

After  describing  the  method  of  forming  the  Board  and  provid- 
ing for  its  appointment  and  duties,  the  Act  sets  forth  : 

"  All  public  officers,  agents  and  servants,  and  all  officers, 
agents  and  servants  of  any  and  every  county,  city,  township, 
borough,  district  and  other  municipality,  and  of  any  and  every 
Almshouse,  prison,  morgue,  hospital,  or  other  public  institution 
having  charge  or  control  over  dead  human  bodies,  required  to  be 
buried  at  the  public  expense,  are  hereby  required  to  notify  the  said 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  317 

Board  of  distribution  or  such  person  or  persons  as  may,  from  time 
to  time,  be  designated  by  said  Board  or  its  duly  authorized  agent, 
whenever  any  such  body  or  bodies  come  to  his  or  their  possession, 
charge  or  control,  and  shall,  without  fee  or  reward,  deliver  such 
body  or  bodies,  and  permit  or  suffer  the  said  Board,  or  its  agents, 
and  the  Physicians  and  Surgeons  from  time  to  time  designated  by 
them,  who  may  comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  to  take  and 
remove  all  such  bodies,  to  be  used  within  this  State  for  the  ad- 
vancement of  medical  science  ;  but  no  such  notice  need  be  given, 
nor  shall  any  such  body  be  delivered,  if  any  person  claiming  to  be, 
and  shall  satisfy  the  authorities  in  charge  of  said  body,  that  he  or 
she  is  of  kindred,  or  is  related  by  marriage  to  the  deceased,  shall 
claim  the  said  body  for  burial,  but  it  shall  be  surrendered  for  inter- 
ment ;  nor  shall  notice  be  given  or  body  delivered,  if  such  deceased 
person  was  a  traveller  who  died  suddenly,  in  which  case  the  body 
shall  be  buried." 

The  Act  provided  for  the  distribution  of  bodies  among  the 
schools,  colleges,  etc.,  and  required  that  bonds  should  be  entered  as 
a  guarantee  that  the  bodies  should  be  used  for  scientific  purposes 
only.  A  penalty  was  provided  for  the  punishment  of  any  person 
convicted  of  buying  or  selling  bodies. 

This  Act  put  a  stop  to  "  body-snatching,"  "  resurrecting  "  and 
"  traffic  in  bodies,"  subjects  that  had  caused  much  discussion  and 
scandal  in  previous  years,  and  had  caused  the  Guardians  to  be  des- 
ignated as  the  "  Board  of  Buzzards."  Since  the  passage  of  the  bill 
the  Almshouse  authorities  have  not  buried  any  of  the  paupers 
who  have  died.  Those  poor  persons  who  died  in  homes  in  the  city 
and  had  no  friends  who  were  willing  or  able  to  pay  funeral 
expenses,  have  been  buried  in  an  humble  manner  by  an  undertaker 
employed  for  the  purpose  by  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor. 

An  ordinance  of  Councils  was  approved  on  the  6th  day  of 
July,  1883,  which  ordained  "  That  all  the  Almshouse  property  in 
West  Philadelphia,  bounded  by  South  Street,  Spruce  Street,  Thirty- 
fourth  Street,  Vintage  Avenue,  on  to  the  southern  boundary  of  the 
city  property,  and  thereto  to  the  Schuylkill  River,  and  the  Schuyl- 
kill  River,  be   and  is  hereby  set  apart   for  the  purpose  of  being 


318  History  of  PhiladelpHia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

improved   for   the   health    and  public  welfare    of   the    citizens   of 
Philadelphia." 

It  provided  for  the  appointment  of  two  laborers  to  level  the 
ashes,  etc.,  that  might  be  placed  on  the  marshy  part  of  the  grounds 
so  that  it  might  be  filled  up  to  a  proper  level  to  the  Port  Ward- 
en's line.  Citizens  were  authorized  to  dump  ashes,  etc.,  on  the 
grounds. 

This  ordinance  embraced  all  of  the  property  south  of  Spruce 
Street  that  was  not  inclosed  for  the  Almshouse  buildings.  It  took 
in  the  grounds  upon  which  stood  the  Children's  Asylum,  the 
stables  and  carriage  houses,  the  farmer's  and  weigher's  houses 
and  the  graveyard,  in  which  the  remains  of  hundreds  are 
deposited. 

On  January  31st,  1884,  General  Wagner  resigned  from  the 
Board,  and  Dr.  Thomas  Biddle  was  elected  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

At  the  annual  election  in  June,  1884,  Messrs.  Huggard,  Stew- 
art and  Biddle  were  re-elected,  and  Mr.  J.  W.  Durham  took  the 
place  of  Mr.  Keyser.  Mr.  George  H.  Smith  was  elected  Superin- 
tendent. 

The  ofiice  of  Chief  Nurse  in  the  Hospital  was  created,  and 
$800  were  appropriated  to  pay  her  salary.  On  July  28,  1884,  Pres- 
ident Hoffman  stated  that  for  some  time  past  efforts  had  been  made 
to  find  a  suitable  person  for  head  nurse  of  the  proposed  training 
school.  Mr.  George  W.  Childs  and  Mr.  Anthony  J.  Drexel,  having 
interested  themselves  in  the  matter,  had  submitted  the  name  of 
Miss  Alice  Fisher,  and  she  was  selected. 

In  1885  the  salary  was  increased  to  $1,000,  and  in  1886  an 
assistant  was  provided  for  at  a  salary  of  $600  per  annum.  This 
was  the  official  commencement  of  what  has  since  been  termed  the 
"  Training  School  for  Nurses  of  the  Philadelphia  Hospital."  Prior 
to  that  time  the  nursing  was  done  principally  by  the  inmates,  and 
this  movement  was  intended  to  introduce  a  different  character  of 
persons  to  perform  that  duty. 

Young  women  and  girls,  who  desired  to  become  proficient  in 
that  line  and  who  possessed  the  necessary  qualifications,  were 
employed  at  a  small  salar}^  and  placed  under  the  direction  of  com- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  319 

petent,  practical  teachers  for  a  term  of  two,  but  subsequently 
changed  to  three  years,  during  which  time  they  had  experience  in 
all  of  the  wards  of  the  institution. 

Miss  Alice  Fisher,  a  lad}'  of  much  ability  and  of  long  experi- 
ence in  hospital  work  in  England,  was  the  first  chief  nurse  and  the 
organizer  of  the  system.  She  served  in  that  position  until  the 
time  of  her  death,  June  3d,  1888,  when  Miss  Marion  E.  Smith,  a 
graduate  of  the  school,  succeeded  to  the  position.  Miss  Editb 
Horner,  who  is  now  the  wife  of  United  States  Senator  Hawle}',  was 
the  first  assistant.  The  school  was  started  with  about  one  dozen 
pupils,  and  from  that  small  number  it  has  increased  until  now 
there  are  more  than  a  hundred  attending  the  course. 

The  portion  of  the  main  hospital  building  that  had  formerl}' 
been  occupied  by  the  children  was  remodeled  and  repaired  for  a 
home  for  the  nurses.  Reception  and  class  rooms  were  provided 
for  them,  and  ward  rooms  were  divided  into  sleeping  apart- 
ments. 

The  old  school  room  was  fitted  up  for  the  Apothecary  Store. 

A  new  maternity  building  was  erected  on  the  ground  where 
one  of  the  old  nervous  pavillions  had  stood.  It  was  finished  in  the 
latter  part  of  the  year. 

One  of  the  saddest  calamities  that  had  ever  visited  the  Alms- 
house was  the  fire  that  occurred  on  the  night  of  February  12th, 
1885. 

The  main  building  of  the  Insane  Department  was  entirel}^ 
burned  out,  and  nineteen  of  the  poor  patients  lost  their  lives.  It 
caused  great  distress,  as  there  was  no  part  of  the  institution  where 
the  homeless  ones  could  be  cared  for.  The  Pennsylvania  Railroad 
Company  generously  offered  the  use  of  the  vacant  depot  at  Thirty- 
second  and  Market  Streets  as  a  temporary  asylum.  It  was  accepted 
until  arrangements  could  be  made  to  send  some  of  the  patients  to 
the  State  Hospitals. 

Councils  instructed  the  committee  to  make  a  thorough  investi- 
gation of  the  origin  of  the  fire  and  the  conduct  of  the  officials  pre- 
vious to  the  fire  and  at  the  time.  The  Committee  submitted  the 
following  interesting  report : 


320  History  of  Philadejphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

''  To  the  Select  and  Common  Conncils 

of  the  City  of  Philadelphia  : 
''  The  Committee  on  Prisons,  etc.,  which  was  directed  to  make  a 
full  and  thorough  investigation  of  all  matters  relating  to  the 
late  fire  at  the  Almshouse  grounds,  etc.,  by  Resolution  passed 
by  your  Honorable  Bodies,  February  19,  1885  (Appendix  of 
Select  Council,  No.  84),  respectfully  report : 
"  That  at  a  meeting  held  on  February  22,  1885,  and  at  various 
adjourned  meetings  thereafter,  it  examined  a  number  of  the  Guard- 
ians of  the  Poor,  and  officers  and  employees  of  the  institution,  in 
reference  to  the  matters  contained  in  said  resolutions.  Directly 
after  your  Committee  were  instructed,  as  aforesaid,  and  before  its 
first  meeting,  the  Coroner  made  an  investigation  of  the  fire,  and 
his  jury,  after  listening  to  the  evidence  produced  before  it,  found  a 
verdict  implicating  one  of  the  inmatqs  and  two  of  the  employees 
who  were  thereupon  bound  over  for  trial  and  are  now  confined  in 
the  county  prison.  A  majority  of  the  members  of  your  commit- 
tee, while  not  in  any  wise  adopting  or  rejecting  the  above  verdict 
as  the  true  solution  of  the  mystery,  deem  it  inexpedient  to  inter- 
fere with  the  course  of  justice  which  would,  in  an  orderly  manner, 
develop  through  the  Courts  an  explanation  more  valuable  than  any 
this  committee  could  secure  by  further  examination  of  the  alleged 
perpetrators  of  this  terrible  crime,  and  consequently  it  was  deter- 
mined to  proceed  no  further  in  that  direction.  The  investigation 
of  the  origin  of  the  fire  being  unnecessary,  the  carrying  out  of  the 
remainder  of  your  instructions  was  expected  to  be  rather  perfunc- 
tory in  its  character,  but  the  statements  of  the  Guardians,  concern- 
ing the  management  of  aff"airs  at  Blockley,  displayed  such  a  want 
of  harmony  among  themselves,  and  such  an  entire  absence  of  at- 
tention to  important  details,  that  your  Committee  would  fail  in  its 
duty  if  it  did  not  comment  thereon  and  draw  your  serious  attention 
thereto. 

Your  Committee  were  surprised  to  find  that  no  arrange- 
ments of  any  kind  had  been  made  for  the  prevention  or  suppression 
of  fire  in  the  Insane  Asylum,  which  contained  over  six  hundred 
male  and  female  patients.     The  building  was  three  stories  high. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  321 

some  seven  hundred  feet  long,  and  about  seventy-five  feet  deep.  It 
was  in  shape  a  parallelogram,  with  wings  at  each  end.  The  fire 
took  place  on  Thursday,  February  12,  1885,  about  eight  o'clock  p.  m. 
It  was  discovered  a  few  minutes  after  eight,  and  may  have  been 
smouldering  some  time.  A  mulatto  boy,  or  man,  named  Naudine, 
shouted  the  alarm,  and  two  attendants,  who  were  a  short  distance 
away,  hearing  him,  ran  to  the  drying  room,  on  the  first  floor,  where 
they  found  the  flames  had  made  some  headway.  Without  any  ap- 
pliances to  extinguish  or  control  the  fire,  the  only  resource  was  to 
assist  the  inmates  to  escape.  There  was  not  even  a  fire-alarm  box 
on  the  premises,  so  that  the  building  was  a  roaring  furnace  by  the 
time  the  firemen  arrived,  and  the  difficulties  of  rescuing  the  un- 
fortunates can  hardly  be  exaggerated.  Under  the  circumstances, 
it  is  remarkable  that  only  nineteen  of  the  inmates  were  burned  up. 
The  courage  and  energy  of  the  firemen,  assisted  by  the  officers  and 
employees  of  the  institution,  alone  prevented  a  greater  destruction 
of  life. 

"  The  fire  completely  gutted  the  main  building,  leaving  noth- 
ing but  the  walls  and  the  fire-escapes  ;  but  the  wings,  at  either 
end,  were  only  partially  damaged,  and  are  already  almost  entirely 
restored.     They  will  certainly  be  ready  for  occupancy  in  a  few  days. 

"In  June,  1883,  Councils  provided  the  sum  of  $20,000  for 
erecting  these  fire-escapes,  which  consist  of  outside  fire-proof  stair- 
cases, and  are  attached  also  to  the  other  buildings  at  Blockley. 
In  the  wreck  of  the  Insane  Asylum  these  staircases  remained 
wholly  uninjured,  demonstrating  their  value  at  such  times,  and 
assisting  in  the  saving  of  life. 

"  After  the  erection  of  these  escapes  there  remained  a  balance 
of  $1,490.20;  and  it  is  to  be  regretted  that,  with  the  subject  before 
them,  the  Guardians  did  not  purchase  with  this  money  some  of  the 
many  modern  chemical  apparatus  for  use  at  fires  inside  the  build- 
ing. A  transfer  for  this  purpose  was  readily  obtainable.  A  short 
time  before  the  sad  event  the  Board  of  Guardians  had  directed  three 
members  of  the  medical  staff  to  make  an  examination  of  the  build- 
ing occupied  by  the  insane,  and  report  thereon.  This  report,  dated 
January  30,  1885,  called  the  attention  of  the  Board  to  a  number  of 
21 


322  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

needed  reforms  in  this  department,  and  most  particularly  to  the 
want  of  the  proper  provisions  in  case  of  fire,  warning  the  members 
that  should  it  occur  '  a  large  proportion  of  the  inmates  would  be 
burned,  to  death.'  These  gentlemen  say,  '  there  is  not  a  fire-plug, 
a  foot  of  hose,  or  a  fire-extinguisher  in  the  whole  building;  and 
in  the  upper  stories  there  is  no  certain  supply  of  water.  They 
respectfully  suggested  changes  and  improvements  in  these  respects, 
that  were  being  considered  by  the  Hospital  Committee,  but  had  not 
yet  been  acted  upon  at  the  time  of  the  disaster. 

"  Before  the  receipt  of  this  report  the  idea  of  fire  seems  never 
to  have  occurred  to  any  member  of  the  Board.  The  hospital  and 
the  out-wards,  where  the  paupers  are  kept,  containing  some  2,500 
persons  in  addition  to  the  insane,  were  equally  defenceless  against 
that  element. 

"  This  oversight  arose,  no  doubt  from  the  general  belief  that 
such  precautions  had  been  taken.  No  one  imagined  the  danger; 
each  member  elected  to  the  Board,  if  the  subject  occurred  to  him 
at  all,  assumed  that  the  buildings  were  perfectly  provided,  and 
troubled  himself  no  more  about  the  matter.  What  was  everybody's 
business  was  nobody's.  So  far  as  your  Committee  could  learn, 
there  never  had  been,  at  any  time  in  the  history  of  the  Almshouse, 
any  provisions  for  security  from  or  for  the  extinguishment  of  fire. 
At  present  each  floor  of  the  building  is  provided  with  chemical 
extinguishers.  A  fire-alarm  box  is  located  on  the  premises,  and 
attachments  will  soon  be  made  to  secure  a  better  water  supply. 
The  buildings  now  are  ordinarily  safe  from  fire. 

"Your  Committee  cannot  leave  this  branch  of  the  investigation 
without  alluding  to  the  effort  which  was  made  to  place  the  respon- 
sibility for  this  fire  upon  your  Honorable  Bodies.  The  present 
investigation  has  shown  this  to  be  entirely  unsupported  by  any 
evidence  whatever.  In  the  first  horrors  of  the  occasion,  inuendoes 
and  statements  were  made,  from  what  source  exactly  your  Commit- 
tee was  unable  to  discover,  suggesting  that  the  disaster  was  the 
result  of  some  economies  of  the  public  money  upon  your  part. 
Among  other  more  indefinite  assertions  to  support  this,  it  was 
stated   that   two  watchmen   for  the  asylum  were  refused   by  the 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  323 

Finance  Committee ;  the  inference  being  intended  that,  had  they 
been  granted — and  this  is  suggested  in  a  communication,  signed  by 
the  members  of  the  Board,  to  Councils  of  February  19,  1885  (Com- 
mon Council  Appendix,  No.  251) — the  fire  would  have  been  pre- 
vented. In  the  first  place,  they  would  have  been  useless  without 
any  means  of  extinguishing  the  fire ;  and,  secondly,  they  were 
never  requested.  The  application  which  was  thus  distorted  into 
two  watchmen  for  the  insane  asylum  was  actually  for  two  police- 
men to  guard  the  grounds,  and  particularly  to  prevent  the  inmates 
from  passing  their  clothes  and  other  articles  through  or  over  the 
fence  to  outsiders ;  and  the  men,  if  allowed,  could  therefore  have 
been  of  no  service  whatever  in  preventing  or  extinguishing  the 
fire. 

"  It  was  also  asserted  that  the  property  at  Blockley  could  have 
been  sold  for  sufficient  to  put  up  new  buildings,  with  modern  im- 
provements, etc.,  and  leave  a  handsome  surplus  in  the  treasury ; 
and  that,  therefore,  Councils  were  responsible  for  the  burning  of 
the  present  tinder-box.  The  entire  tract  at  the  Almshouse  beine 
only  sixteen  acres,  worth  probably  eight  or  ten  thousand  dollars 
an  acre,  the  absurdity  of  this  is  apparent,  even  if  such  remote 
responsibility  was  not  otherwise  ridiculous. 

"  It  was  next  insinuated  that  a  better  water  supply  would  have 
aided  in  reducing  the  flames.  This  is  undoubtedly  true ;  and  had 
the  Guardians  made  attachments  to  the  six-inch  mains  that  com- 
pletely surround  Blockley,  it  could  have  been  obtained ;  but  it 
seems  they  did  not  know  these  mains  were  laid. 

"  These  are  sufficient  as  specimens,  and  it  is  unnecessary  to 
allude  to  any  more  of  these  attempts  to  put  responsibility  for  this 
disaster  on  innocent  shoulders.  It  suffices  to  say,  that  no  request 
of  the  Guardians  for  the  protection  of  the  lives  and  property  en- 
trusted to  their  charge  has  been  refused  by  City  Councils,  and  that 
three  hundred  and  twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  divided,  as  sug- 
gested by  the  Guardians  themselves,  was  allowed  for  the  expenses 
of  the  current  year. 

"  The  insight  obtained  by  your  Committee  into  the  manner  of 
government  of  the  institutions   at  Blockley  was  not  gratifying. 


324  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  character  of  the  gentlemen  constituting  the  Board  is  such,  that 
it  is  unnecessary  to  say  that  nothing  affecting  their  integrity  is 
suggested  by  this  statement ;  but  it  cannot  be  denied  that  the  effi- 
ciency of  the  body  is  greatlj^,  if  not  totally,  impaired  by  constant 
bickerings  and  an  utter  want  of  united  action  in  any  direction. 
The  President  of  the  Board,  Mr.  Edward  Hoffman,  frankly  stated 
to  your  Committee  that  this  was  so,  and,  in  his  opinion,  was  caused 
by  the  struggle  among  the  members  for  the  patronage  appertaining 
to  the  position ;  that  is  to  say,  the  appointment  of  the  numerous 
attendants,  nurses,  etc.,  required  in  the  immense  establishments. 
He  presented  a  list  of  appointees  in  the  Insane  Asylum,  and  it  was 
evident  that  politics  had  more  to  do  wnth  the  appointments  than 
fitness  for  ofiice.  Where  the  patronage  was  not  retained  by  the 
members,  it  appeared  to  have  been  traded  off  for  the  support  of  mea- 
sures of  administration  desired  by  the  assignor  of  the  patronage. 
That  the  appointments  w^ere  the  great  lever  and  the  chief  cause  of 
dissension  was  apparent,  without  the  statement  to  that  effect  of  the 
President.  The  report  of  the  medical  ofi&cers,  before  alluded  to, 
says,  with  reference  to  the  ability  of  the  appointees,  what  would 
naturally  be  expected  from  such  a  system,  'The  character  and 
general  fitness  of  the  nurses  is  very  low  as  a  rule.'  The  list  pre- 
sented to  your  Committee  by  the  President  shows  that  painters, 
gardeners,  car  conductors,  stablemen,  laborers,  sailors,  and  such 
like,  w^ere  appointed  nurses  and  attendants  upon  the  insane,  without 
any  method  of  determining  their  qualifications.  Your  Committee 
respectfully  recommend  that  this  system  be  abolished,  and  here- 
after fitness  and  character  be  made  the  sole  test. 

"  Another  weakness  in  the  management  your  Committee  deem 
it  proper  to  suggest  should  be  corrected ;  and  that  is  the  want  of 
absolute  authority  in  the  heads  of  the  departments.  The  report  of 
the  physicians  speaks  very  strongly,  but  not  too  much  so,  upon 
this  subject.  In  reference  to  the  Physician-in-Chief  of  the  Insane 
Asylum  it  says,  '  All  attendant  nurses  are  appointed  by  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Insane  Hospital,  and  no  matter  how  grave  may  be 
their  offences — if  they  be  drunk,  brutal,  or  absent  without  leave,  they 
are  not  removable  by  the  physicians  without  a  hearing  before  the 


History  of  Philadelplila  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  825 

Committee.  A  system  whicli  puts  an  end  to  all  possibility  of  exact 
and  reasonable  discipline.  This  system  stands  alone  in  this  Com- 
monwealth in  this  hospital,  and  would  be  laughable  were  it  not  too 
serious  for  mirth.  The  Physician-in-Chief  of  the  insane  and  the 
Superintendent  of  the  Almshouse  should  have  power  to  dismiss  or 
punish  any  subordinate  promptly,  without  any  appeal,  reporting 
the  same  at  once  to  the  Board. 

"  Dr.  Bennett,  of  the  Norristown  Insane  Hospital,  very  prop- 
erly said,  '  The  most  unworthy  attendants  are  those  who  are  apt  to 
try  to  appeal  to  the  Trustees,  and  if  the  latter  listened  to  their 
stories  we  would  be  involved  in  endless  complications,  and  my 
authority  and  discipline  would  be  greatly  weakened.' 

"  The  management  of  the  pauper  establishments  is,  however, 
entirely  vested  by  law  in  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor,  who  have 
complete  jurisdiction  and  control ;  Councils  being  confined  to  elect- 
ing four  of  these  gentlemen  every  year,  one  of  whom  shall  belong 
to  the  minority,  and  appropriating  the  money  for  the  maintenance 
thereof;  but  the  present  members  have  always  manifested  such 
deference  to  the  wishes  of  your  Honorable  Bodies,  and  the  desire  to 
promote  the  interests  of  the  institution,  that  any  suggestions  that 
are  appropriate  and  useful  will  be  cheerfully  accepted  and  carefully 
considered.  The  office  of  Guardian  is  no  sinecure.  It  requires 
conscientious  attention  and  thought.  Experience  is  almost  a  ne- 
cessity to  the  proper  performance  of  its  duties.  The  gentlemen 
who  are  willing  to  make  the  necessary  sacrifices  to  hold  the  place 
should  receive  the  support  of  Councils,  and  be  retained  as  long  as 
possible.  This  Committee  has  endeavored,  during  the  Council- 
manic  year  now  ending,  to  sustain  the  Board  in  the  reforms  which 
it  undoubtedly  has  accomplished  ;  and  can  say  that  while  obliged, 
as  you  have  seen,  to  criticise  parts  of  the  management,  it  recog- 
nizes that  there  has  been  an  endeavor,  on  the  part  of  the  members, 
to  promote  the  general  welfare  of  the  inmates  and  administer  its 
affairs  honestly  and  economically.  With  a  mutual  disposition  all 
around  to  surrender  personal  prejudices  and  unite  their  differences, 
the  present  Board  would  secure  admirable  results. 

"The   resolutions  adopted  by  your  Honorable  Bodies  further 


326  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

direct  your  Committee  to  report  '  the  demands  of  and  appropria- 
tions to  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  for  the  past  five  years,  and  the 
expenditures  of  the  same.'  A  statement  showing  the  above  has 
been  obtained  and  is  herewith  annexed. 

"  All  of  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

"John  J.  Ridgway,  Jr.,  Chairman^'' 

_Appropriations.  IJxpenditures. 

1880 .$405,476    GO  $405,402    63 

1881 436,976  95  436,093  90 

1882 422,118  00  406,317  57 

1883 386,304  00  365.401  56 

1884 344,613  00  336,346  20 


CHAPTER    XXX. 


BULUTT  BILL  GOES   INTO   EFFECT— CHANGE   IN  MANAGEMENT. 

SHORTLY  after  the  fire  tlie  effort  to  remove  the  pauper  ele- 
ment of  the  Almshouse  to  another  location  was  renewed. 
Petitions  were  circulated  by  the  medical  fraternity  to  obtain 
signatures  of  those  in  favor  of  it. 
In  compliance  with  a  resolution,  the  Clerk  of  Common  Coun- 
cil advertised  for  proposals  for  a  tract  of  land  in  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia, suitable  for  the  purpose,  price  not  to  exceed  $500  per  acre, 
and  tract  to  contain  not  less  than  25  acres. 

In  compliance  therewith,  the  following  offers  were  received, 


viz : 


From. 

T.  P.  Smart     . 
John  Heniiig  . 
Joseph  C.  Moore 
James  Clark    . 
Edwin  Martin 
David  M.  Hess 
Jon'n  Rowland 
George  S.  Clark 
John  Arthur    . 
Mrs.  Glackin  . 
Dilworth  Wentz 
E-  C.  Chesebrough 
Harrison  Farm  . 
E.  V.  Lansdale 


No.  of  Acre!?.  Price  per  Acre. 

25 $473  00 

not  stated 400  00 

34 475  00 

25 400  CO 

41®%oo ,  238  72 

32 500  00 

75 225  00 

32^-^0 250  00 

73 350  00 

67 300  CO 

50 500  GO 

igo 400  00 

156  ...  , 500  00 

100 500  00 


President  Hoffman,  under  date  of  May  9th,  1885,  sent  the  fol- 
lowing communication  to  Councils  : 

^'' Gentletnen — I  respectfully  tender  my  resignation  as  a  Guard- 
ian of  the  Poor,  to  take  effect  forthwith. 

"  It  is  in  the  best  interests  of  the  institution  that  my  place  as 
President  and  member  of  the  Board  should  be  at  once  filled  by  a 
gentleman  who  commands  the  support  of  your  body." 

The  resignation  was  accepted,  and  Mr.  Thomas  S.  Keyser  was 

elected  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Board. 

327 


328  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Mr.  Josepli  Paxson  was  subsequently  chosen  for  President. 
Dr.  Philip  Leidy  was  selected  for  Physician-in-Chief  of  the  insan'e 
department. 

The  Councils  Committee  on  Prisons  was  "  requested  to  con- 
sider and  report  on  the  propriety  of  re-building  the  burned  portion 
of  the  insane  department  at  Blockley." 

The  Committee  made  report  on  May  28th,  1885,  in  which  it 
was  stated : 

"  The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  are  unanimously  of  the 
opinion  that  they  should  be  rebuilt  on  the  present  site,  and  this 
viev/  is  indorsed  by  your  committee  for  the  following  reasons  : 

''''First.  The  old  walls  now  standing  are  worth  between  $30,000 
and  $40,000,  which  will  be  lost  to  the  city  if  these  buildings  are 
erected  elsewhere. 

''"Second.  There  are  now  about  240  insane  patients  in  the  por- 
tion of  the  building  not  touched  by  the  late  fire,  who  overcrowd  the 
^ame,  and  in  the  event  of  a  similar  casualty,  the  same  appalling 
result  might  happen  as  upon  the  prior  occasion. 

''''Third.  It  is  asserted  that  the  State  insane  asylums  are  now 
full,  and  therefore  the  patients  now  remaining  at  Blockley  cannot 
be  removed  to  said  asylums.  The  Norristown  Asylum  in  particu- 
lar is  very  much  crowded. 

^''Fourth.  While  your  Committee  believe  that  the  State  should 
erect  an  insane  asylum  in  Philadelphia,  of  sufficient  size  to  accom- 
modate and  properly  care  for  her  insane  citizens,  inasmuch  as  Phil- 
adelphia pays  into  the  State  Treasury  two-fifths  of  its  entire 
receipts  ;  yet,  should  the  State  authorities  coincide  with  this  view, 
it  would  be  impossible  to  accomplish  the  said  object  by  securing 
the  proper  legislation,  the  awarding  of  contracts  and  the  erection  of 
such  buildings  in  a  less  period  than  four  or  five  years,  and  in  the 
meantime  the  insane  poor  of  our  city  would  be  deprived  of  that 
care  and  treatment  which  is  expected  from  a  Christian  community. 

''''Fifth. — There  was  an  insurance  of  $10,000  upon  the  burnt 
building,  which  sum  is  now  available,  and  which,  together  with  the 
sum  of  $25,000,  will  rebuild  these  buildings  and  make  them  thor- 
oughly fire  proof  and  capable  of  accommodating  600  patients. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  329 

''  Sixth. — The  hospital  facilities  of  Philadelphia  are  inadequate 
for  the  City's  needs  in  case  of  an  epidemic,  and  these  buildings 
proposed  to  be  rebuilt  would  be  of  great  value  for  sucH  purposes,  if 
at  any  time  hereafter  other  accommodations  for  the  insane  should 
be  secured. 

"The  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  have  had  plans  pre- 
pared for  the  rebuilding  of  these  buildings,  which  they  have 
unanimously  approved,  and  which  your  Committee  have  also  ap- 
proved, and  recommend  their  adoption." 

The  subject  was  referred  to  the  Joint  Committee  on  Finance 
and  Prison.  Upon  their  report  Councils  approved  the  plans  pre- 
pared by  Wilson  Brothers  &  Co.,  and  the  work  was  ordered  to  be 
done. 

Before  the  fire  these  buildings  were  three  stories  in  height, 
the  same  as  the  other  three,  but  when  they  were  rebuilt  only  the 
centre  portion  was  made  that  high,  the  extensions  on  each  side  of 
the  centre  being  only  carried  up  two  stories. 

On  the  first  floor  in  the  centre  are  located  the  physicians' 
offices  and  the  reception  rooms  of  the  patients  and  their  friends ; 
the  assistant  physicians'  sleeping  rooms  and  the  sewing  rooms  are 
on  the  second  floor,  while  the  third  floor  was  fitted  up  for  the 
chapel  and  Amusement  Hall. 

Both  floors  of  the  extension  on  one  side  of  the  centre  are  occu- 
pied by  male  patients,  while  on  the  other  side  the  female  patients 
have  accommodations. 

The  giving  of  money,  provisions,  and  groceries  as  out-door 
relief  (the  propriety  of  which  had  caused  much  discussion)  having 
been  stopped,  the  City  was  divided  into  districts  and  a  few  physi- 
cians were  employed  at  a  salary  of  $120  per  annum  to  attend  the 
sick  poor  at  their  homes.  Medicines  and  diatetic  food  were 
furnished  free  of  cost  to  the  patients.  The  number  of  physicians 
has  been  increased  until  now  there  are  25  of  the  old  school  and  25 
of  the  new,  with  a  salary  of  $240  per  annum. 

The  medicines  and  food  furnished  cost  the  City  about  $8,000, 
which,  added  to  the  $12,000  paid  the  physicians,  brings  the  cost  of 
the  item  up  to  $20,000  per  annum. 


330  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  position  of  hospital  warden  was  abolished  and  that  of 
physician-in-chief  to  the  hospital  was  created  in  its  stead ;  Dr. 
Thomas  N.  McLaughlin,  who  was  warden  at  the  time,  was  elected 
to  the  new  position. 

Mr.  George  Roney  was  elected  Superintendent  and  assumed 
the  duties  on  the  ist  of  January,  1886.  Mr.  Roney  was  an  ex- 
member  of  Select  Council,  ex-fire  commissioner,  and  a  veteran  of 
the  civil  war.  Many  noticeable  improvements  were  made  during 
his  administration.  During  the  year  a  brick  pavilion,  for  the 
Men's  Nervous  Wards,  was  erected  in  the  yard  to  the  northeast 
ward  of,  and  running  parallel  with,  the  main  hospital  building. 

Miss  Mary  Shields,  who  died  October  8th,  1880,  bequeathed  to 
the  City  of  Philadelphia,  one-twelfth  part  of  her  estate  "to  relieve 
and  make  more  comfortable  the  sick  and  insane  poor  in  the  Alms- 
house in  Philadelphia." 

The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  City  Trusts  conferred  with  the 
Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  adopted  a  plan  for  the  disposal  of  the 
funds.  This  provided  for  the  appointment  of  a  physician  of  at 
least  five  years  standing  to  act  as  Superintendent  of  what  was 
termed  the  "  Mary  Shields  Almshouse  Fund." 

Dr.  W.  H.  Wallace  was  appointed,  and  he  still  holds  the  posi- 
tion. He  visits  the  institution  frequently,  keeps  himself  informed 
as  to  the  needs  of  the  patients,  confers  with  the  officials,  and  reports 
to  the  Board  of  Directors  of  City  Trusts.  The  accumulated  in- 
come was  applied  to  the  erection  of  new  kitchens,  one  for  the 
insane  and  another  for  the  hospital  departments,  supplied  with  the 
best  character  of  cooking  apparatus.  In  addition  to  these  the  fund 
has  been  used  for  supplying,  as  far  as  possible,  such  things  as 
were  necessary  to  the  comfort  and  welfare  of  the  patients,  but  which 
the  authorities  could  not  procure  in  the  usual  way.  Some  of  these 
articles  have  been  an  organ,  a  piano,  banjos,  accordeons  and  other 
musical  instruments,  lawn  seats,  settees,  water  coolers  for  the 
wards,  framed  pictures  and  a  number  of  games,  both  for  out-door 
and  in-door  use.  Concerts  are  given  during  the  cold  weather,  and 
a  band  is  employed  to  play  in  the  yards  of  the  insane  department 
during  the  summer  seasons.     Stage  coaches  are  also  employed  to 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  331 

take  selected  patients  out  for  a  ride,  several  times  during  the 
pleasant  weather.  A  number  of  magazines,  illustrated  weekly  and 
monthly  papers  are  subscribed  for,  and  a  well  selected  library  w^as 
presented  to  that  department.  On  the  holidays  the  patients  are 
furnished  with  an  excellent  dinner  of  turkey  and  pies,  and  fruit  is 
provided  for  them  at  different  times.  The  amusement  hall  was 
supplied  with  the  furniture,  including  a  pulpit  for  religious 
services,  tables,  chairs  and  seats  for  the  patients. 

The  hospital  has  been  furnished  with  a  number  of  useful  arti- 
cles, such  as  water  and  air  beds,  cushions,  rockers,  rolling  chairs, 
trusses,  etc. 

The  name  of  Mary  Shields  should  ever  be  held  in  grateful 
remembrance  for  the  great  good  that  has  been  accomplished  by  her 
bequest  through  her  representatives. 

Dr.  Joseph  Leidy  resigned  his  position  as  Physician-in-Chief 
•of  the  Insane  Department,  and  Dr.  W.  H.  Wallace  was  elected  in 
his  stead,  but  he  only  served  a  few  months. 

The  Act  known  as  the  "  Bullitt  Bill "  went  into  effect  in  April, 
1887.  It  revolutionized  the  management  of  the  Almshouse.  The 
Boards  of  the  Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  Managers  of  the  House 
of  Correction  were  abolished,  and  the  two  departments  were  con- 
solidated in  the  Department  of  Charities  and  Correction.  This 
department  is  under  the  care  and  management  of  a  board  consist- 
ing of  a  president  and  four  directors,  appointed  by  the  Mayor  for  a 
period  of  five  years,  and  all  the  authority  of  the  two  old  boards  is 
vested  in  them.  The  board  is  subdivided  into  two  bureaus, 
one  known  as  the  Bureau  of  Charities  and  the  other  as  the 
Bureau  of  Correction,  the  President  being  ex  ojficio  a  member  of 
l)oth. 

The  Bureau  of  Charities  is  to  look  after  the  affairs  of  the 
Almshouse,  meeting  there  at  least  once  in  each  week.  Reports 
are  made  to  the  Board  at  its  monthly  meetings.  All  of  the 
members  of  the  Board  are  expected  to  visit  each  of  the  insti- 
tutions not  less  than  once  in  each  month.  The  civil  service 
Tules  adopted  in  accordance  with  the  law  provided  for  the  retention 
•of  faithful  officials  and  employees,  so  there  were  very  few  changes 


332  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

made.     These  rules  were  complied  with  during  several  administra- 
tions with  very  beneficial  results. 

During  previous  years  much  of  the  business  of  the  institu- 
tion was  intrusted  to  committees  of  the  Board  of  Guardians.  The 
old  rules  show  that  there  were  standing  committees  of  three  mem- 
bers each  on  the  out-wards,  children's  asylum,  hospital,  insane 
department,  classification  and  diet,  manufacturing  department,  farm 
and  garden,  supplies  and  accounts,  and  a  committee  of  five  mem- 
bers on  support  and  bastardy  cases.  The  work  of  these  commit- 
tees has  since  been  performed  by  the  Superintendent,  under  the 
direction  of  the  Bureau  of  Charities. 

The  first  board  of  directors  of  the  department  was  composed, 
of  Dr.  James  W.  White,  President,  and  Robert  Laughlin,  Dr. 
Richard  A.  Cleeman,  Richard  C.  McMurtrie  and  James  Stewart.. 
They  were  appointed  by  Hon.  Kdwin  H.  Fitler,  the  first  Mayor 
under  the  new^  law. 

The  last  official  act  of  the  old  Board  of  Guardians  was  the 
passage  of  the  following  preamble  and  resolutions  : 

"At  a  stated  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor,, 
held  March  28th,  1887,  on  motion  of  Mr.  William  McAleer,  the 
following  preamble  and  resolutions  were  adopted,  viz  : 

"  Whereas,  This  Board  of  Guardians  in  their  experience  as 
officials  have  been  called  in  close  contact  with  the  President  of 
Common  Councils,  who  has  at  all  times  by  his  advice  and  influ- 
ence been  of  great  service  to  this  Board ;  and 

"  Whereas,  It  is  fitting  the  Board  should  take  action  before 
its  dissolution  upon  the  valuable  services  rendered  by  Charles 
Lawrence,  Esq.,  President  of  Common  Council,  particularly  for 
his  untiring  exertions  after  the  disastrous  fire  at  Blockle}^  in  secur- 
ing for  this  Department  the  appropriation  to  complete  the  rebuild- 
ing of  the  Insane  Department ;  therefore 

^^ Resolved^  That  this  Board  tender  to  Charles  Lawrence,  Esq.,, 
President  of  Common  Council,  their  hearty  thanks  for  his  energy 
and  influence  in  obtaining  from  Councils  the  necessary  means  for 
the  completion  of  the  buildings  for  the  insane  poor. 

''''Resolved^  That  we  recognize  in  Charles  Lawrence  a  gentle- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  333 

man  eminently  qualified  for  the  important  and  honorable  position 
of  a  legislator  in  City  Councils,  and  one  whose  heart  prompts  him 
to  sympathize  with  and  alleviate  the  sufferings  of  the  poor. 

^^ Resolved^  That  the  members  of  this  Board  will  alwa3^s  remem- 
ber with  gratitude  his  disinterested  services  and  tender  to  him  their 
best  wishes  for  his  success  in  whatever  post  of  honor  or  duty  he 
may  be  called  upon  to  occupy." 

A  copy  of  the  resolutions,  handsomely  engrossed  and  framed, 
signed  by  Joseph  Paxson,  President,  and  attested  by  Robert  C. 
Floyd,  Secretary,  was  presented  to  Mr.  Lawrence,  and  is  highly 
appreciated  and  valued. 

Upon  the  re-organization  of  the  hospital  by  the  new  board.  Dr. 
George  M.  Wells  was  made  Chief  Resident  Physician,  and  the  posi- 
tion was  now  made  to  include  that  of  Physician-in-Chief  of  the 
insane  department.  The  rules  adopted  prescribed  the  duties,  chief 
of  which  are : 

"  He  shall  have  the  general  supervision  of  the  hospital  in  all 
its  departments  ;  he  shall  be  physician-in-chief  of  the  insane  de- 
partment ;  he  shall  have  full  control  of  the  resident  physicians, 
and  shall  see  that  they  faithfully  perform  their  duties  and  conduct 
themselves  with  decorum  at  all  times  when  within  the  institution, 
and  shall  report  to  the  bureau  any  dereliction  on  their  part ;  he 
shall  have  control  and  general  management  of  all  the  nurses  and 
attendants  connected  with  the  hospital.  The  library  shall  be 
under  the  superintendence  and  direction  of  the  chief  resident  physi- 
cian ;  and  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  person  engaged  for  that 
purpose  to  see  that  all  the  books  are  catalogued,  labelled  and 
numbered." 

During  the  year  another  brick  pavilion  for  the  men's  nervous 
wards  was  erected ;  the  apartments  for  the  nurses  and  those  of  the 
resident  physicians  were  renovated ;  the  general  laundry  was  en- 
larged and  some  new  machinery  introduced^;  a  drying  room  for  the 
laundry  connected  with  the  insane  department  was  built ;  the  outer 
walls  of  the  buildings  were  rough  coated  ;  the  outside  woodwork 
was  re-painted ;  balconies  to  the  fire  escapes  were  completed,  and 
larger  water  pipes  laid. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

ORDINANCE  TO  REMOVE  ALMSHOUSE— MAYOR  FITLER  OPPOSES 

REMOVAL. 

ON  March  21st,  1888,  an  Ordinance  was  approved  which 
authorized  the  Mayor  to  transfer  to  the  Trustees  of  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  a  certain  lot  of  ground 
bounded  as  follows  : 

Commencing  at  the  intersection  of  Woodland  Avenue  and 
Thirty-sixth  Street,  thence  along  Woodland  Avenue,  west,  248  feet 
and  3  inches  to  the  grounds  occupied  as  a  Police  Station  House ; 
thence  along  said  grounds,  west,  415  feet  and  6  inches  to  Spruce 
Street;  thence  south  182  feet  and  10%  inches  to  Thirty-sixth; 
thence  north  237  feet  and  11  inches  to  place  of  beginning;  in  con- 
sideration of  the  sum  of  one  dollar,  subject  to  the  following  condi- 
tions :  "  That  the  ground  shall  never  be  alienated  by  the  Trustees 
of  the  University,  without  the  consent  of  the  City,  and  further 
that  the  said  ^Trustees  will  erect  and  maintain  a  fire  proof  library 
building,  and  provide  means  to  maintain  it  as  a  free  library  of 
reference  open  to  the  entire  community,  and  that  work  thereon 
shall  be  begun  within  four  months  from  the  date  of  conveyance." 

An  ordinance  was  approved  on  the  2 2d  day  of  March,  1888, 
"  To  authorize  the  location  and  erection  of  a  new  Almshouse ;  to 
provide  for  the  removal  of  the  indigent  poor  from  Blockley  Alms- 
house, and  to  make  an  appropriation  therefor." 

It  provided  "that  so  much  of  the  House  of  Correction  property 
as  lies  between  the  State  Road  and  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  as 
may  be  required,  is  hereby  set  apart  for  the  erection  of  buildings  to 
be  occupied,  and  used  by  the  indigent  poor,  of  the  City  of  Phila- 
delphia." 

The  Mayor  was  authorized  to  engage  an  Architect  to  prepare 
plans,  and,  under  the  direction  of  the  Mayor,  to  supervise  the  work 
as  it  progressed.  He  was  to  be  paid  not  exceeding  three  per  cent. 
of  the  cost  of  the  buildings.  The  sum  of  $150,000  was  appro- 
priated to  pay  for  the  buildings,  plans,  etc. 
334 


History  of  Philadelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


yyo 


The  Board  of  Charities  and  Correction  was  authorized  and 
directed  to  remove  the  indigent  poor  from  the  Blockley  Almshouse, 
upon  the  completion  of  the  buildings.  Work  has  not  been  started 
upon  them  up  to  the  present  time. 

During  this  year  the  last  of  the  old  wooden  pavilions  were 
removed  and  two  additional  brick  buildings  substituted  for  them. 
More  fire  escapes  were  erected  ;  and  the  laying  of  Asphalt  paving, 
in  place  of  the  old  cobble-stones  in  the  streets  within  the  inclosure, 
was  commenced.  It  was  found  that  the  filling  in  of  the  marsh- 
land necessitated  the  extension  of  the  sewer  of  the  insane  depart- 
ment, to  carry  the  drainage  into  the  Schu^dkill  River.  An  addi- 
tion 450  feet  in  length  was  built,  and  the  sewer  was  cleansed  for 
the  first  time.  It  was  stated  that  142  cart  loads  of  material  were 
taken  from  it. 

An  effort  was  made  to  sell  a  large  tract  of  the  Almshouse 
property  to  a  manufacturing  firm  for  $50,000.  A^fter  considerable 
deliberation  Councils  concluded  to  have  it  sold  at  public  sale.  M. 
S.  Thomas  &  Sons  were  selected  to  sell  it,  which  they  did  and 
the  sale  was  confirmed  on  March.  12th,  1889.  The  land  was. 
divided  and  the  purcbasers  were  named  as  follows  : 

"  Lot  No,  I. —  All  that  lot  of  ground  situate  on  the  south  side 
of  Locust  Street  on  the  east  side  of  34th  Street,  on  the  northeast 
side  of  South  Street  and  on  the  northwest  side  of  33d  Street,  con- 
taining in  front  on  Locust  Street  441  feet,  i^  inches,  on  33d 
Street  442  feet,  5^  incbes,  on  South  Street,  236  feet,  3^  inches, 
and  on  34tb  Street,  238  feet,  9%  inches. 

"  No.  2  — All  that  lot  of  ground  at  northeast  corner  of  33d  and 
Soutb  Streets,  along  33d  Street  346  feet ;  thence  southeast  174  feet, 
8^  inches  ;  thence  northeast  96  feet,  5^^^  inches  to  Marston  Street; 
thence  along  Marston  Street,  southeast,  354  feet  to  Meadland 
Avenue ;  thence  along  Meadland  Avenue  442  feet,  5^  inches  to 
South  Street ;  thence  along  South  Street  528  feet,  8  j^  inches  to 
place  of  beginning. 

"  No.  J. — All  that  lot  of  ground  beginning  at  northeast  corner 
of  Meadland  Avenue  and  South  Street ;  thence  along  Meadland 
Avenue,  northeast,  442  feet,  ^yi  inches  to  Marston  Street ;    thence 


336  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

along  Marston  Street,  southeast,  i66  feet,  533  inclies  to  the  land  of 
the  West  Chester  and  Philadelphia  Railroad  Company ;  thence  by 
the  same,  southwest,  446  feet,  9^  inches  to  South  Street;  thence 
along  that  street,  northwest,  214  feet,  3%  inches  to  place  of  begin- 
ning," all  unto  William  Pepper,  Provost  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  for  the  sum  of  $149,800.00. 

"  No.  4. —  All  that  triangular  lot  of  ground  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Headland  Avenue  and  Marston  Street,  thence  along 
Headland  Avenue  11  feet,  i}^  inches,  thence  northwest  136  feet, 
15^  inches  to  the  northeasterly  side  of  Harston  Street,  thence 
along  Harston  Street,  southeast,  135  feet  8  inches  to  place  of 
beginning. 

"  TV^*.  5. — All  that  lot  of  ground  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
Headland  Avenue  and  Harston  Street,  thence  northeast  along 
Headland  Avenue  16  feet  lyi  inches,  thence  southeast  138  feet  8j^ 
inches  to  the  line  of  the  West  Chester  and  Philadelphia  Railroad 
Company,  thence  south  29  feet  3  inches  to  Harston  Street,  thence 
along  Harston  Street  149  feet,  i^  inches  to  place  of  beginning," 
to  J.  H.  Gummey  &  Sons  for  the  sum  of  $2,200. 

It  will  be  noticed  that  the  sale  realized  $152,000,  instead  of 
$50,000. 

In  Hay,  1889,  Dr.  J.  W.  White  retired  from  the  Board,  and 
Mr.  Robert  Laughlin  succeeded  him  as  President.  Hr.  Galloway 
C.  Horris  was  appointed  a  Director  to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Board, 
but  he  only  served  until  December  when  he  resigned  and  Hr.  John 
Roberts  took  his  place. 

Hayor  Fitler,  in  his  annual  message,  opposed  the  removal  of 
the  Almshouse  as  provided  for  by  the  ordinance  of  Harch  22,  1888, 
and  gave  his  reasons  for  so  doing.  The  principal  of  these  were, 
that  it  would  be  necessary  to  build  an  additional  hospital  in  con- 
nection with  the  new  buildings  to  accommodate  the  cases  of  sick- 
ness constantly  occurring  in  the  institution ;  that  the  removal  of 
the  Almshouse  would  greatly  add  to  the  cost  of  conducting  two 
establishments  separated  by  nearly  ten  miles  ;  that  for  reasons  of 
convenience  and  economy  the  Almshouse  should  be  near  to  the  city  ; 
that  nearly  all  of  the  inmates  of  the  Almshouse  are  proper  subjects 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  337 

for  hospital  care  ;  that  the  separation  would  cause  not  only  a  large 
expenditure  of  money  for  the  erection  of  new  buildings,  but  would 
make  necessary  large  additional  fixed  expenditures  for  manage- 
ment, with  inconvenience  and  injury  to  the  patients  required  to  be 
moved  from  one  to  the  other. 

During  the  year  nev/  water  closets  were  erected  in  the  Out- 
wards, the  obstetrical  ward  and  in  the  men's  medical  wards.  This 
was  a  much  needed  improvement.  Councils  appropriated  $5,000 
towards  starting  an  electrical  plant  to  light  the  grounds  and  to  put 
a  few  lamps  in  the  buildings.  This  was  done  under  the  direction 
of  the  Klectrical  Bureau  of  the  city. 

Dr.  George  M.  Wells  resigned  his  position  of  Chief  Resident 
Physician  on  January  13th,  1890,  to  take  effect  in  one  month  from 
that  time.  Dr.  Daniel  E.  Hughes  was  elected  in  his  stead  and 
went  on  duty  in  March.  He  still  remains  and  has  served  with 
marked  ability  and  faithfulness.  Many  improvements  in  the  care  and 
treatment  of  the  patients  have  been  inaugurated  under  his  directions. 

A  brick  kitchen  for  the  use  of  the  Outwards  was  erected  and 
paid  for  by  the  Trustees  of  the  Mary  Shields  estate.  It  is  93 
feet  in  length  and  20  feet  in  width  ;  it  stands  in  the  centre  of  the 
courtyard,  adjoining  the  bakehouse  and  is  fitted  with  the  necessary 
cooking  apparatus. 

On  July  ist,  1890,  an  ordinance  was  approved  which  author- 
ized the  sale  of  629%ooo  acres  of  the  meadow  land  adjoining  the 
Junction  Railroad  to  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  Company  for  the 
sum  of  $10,000. 

On  the  same  day  another  ordinance  was  approved  which  trans- 
ferred the  $150,000  appropriated  on  March  22,  1890  for  erecting 
new  Almshouse  on  the  grounds  of  the  House  of  Correction,  "  For 
the  purpose  of  erecting  additional  buildings  to  be  occupied  for  an 
insane  hospital,  the  Philadelphia  Hospital,  or  as  Outwards,  such 
buildings  to  be  either  independent  buildings  or  wings  of  buildings 
now  existing  on  said  grounds. 

On  October  ist,  1890,  an  additional  sum  of  $75,000  was  appro- 
priated for  the  same  purpose,  to  be  taken  from  the  special  fund 
from  the  sale  of  the  Almshouse  ground. 
22 


338  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Mr.  George  Roney  resigned  his  position  as  Superintendent  on 
April  6th,  1891,  to  assume  the  duties  of  Director  of  Public  Safety, 
to  which  he  had  been  appointed  by  Mayor  Edwin  S.  Stuart.  The 
vacancy  was  filled,  after  a  competitive  examination,  by  the  election 
of  Charles  Lawrence,  formerly  President  of  Common  Council  and 
a  veteran  of  the  United  States  Navy  during  the  CiviLWar,  on 
May  nth,  1891. 

An  additional  appropriation  of  $26,074,  from  the  special  fund, 
was  made  on  June  nth,  1891,  to  complete  the  buildings  pro- 
vided for. 

In  April,  1892,  Mayor  Stuart  appointed  a  new  Board  of 
Directors,  consisting  of  Mr.  James  A.  Freeman,  President,  and 
Messrs.  William  H.  Lambert,  Alfred  Moore,  William  D.  Gardner 
and  John  Huggard,  the  term  of  office  of  the  old  Board  having 
expired,  Mr.  Freeman  tendered  his  resignation  on  account  of  sick- 
ness on  September  29th,  1892,  when  Mr.  Lambert  was  appointed 
President  of  the  Department  and  Dr.  James  W.  Walk  was  selected 
to  fill  the  vacancy  on  the  Board.  A  series  of  resolutions  expressing 
the  regret  of  the  members  at  the  retirement  of  Mr.  Freeman,  were 
adopted  by  the  Board. 

On  March  19th,  1892,  an  Ordinance  was  passed  to  "  authorize 
the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  to  sell  and  convey 
part  of  the  lot  of  land  that  was  conveyed  to  them  under  the  author- 
ity of  an  Ordinance  approved  on  the  21st  of  March,  1888,  to  a 
corporation  to  be  organized  for  the  purpose  of  establishing  a 
museum  to  receive  and  preserve  anatomical  and  other  specimens, 
and  to  promote  the  study  of  biology,  anatomy  and  kindred 
sciences."  This  led  to  the  erection  of  the  Wistar  Institute  on  that 
ground.  ' 

On  June„2ist,  1892,  the  sum  of  $50,000  was  appropriated  from 
the  special  fund,  $40,000  of  which  was  for  the  erection  of  a  building 
for  the  accommodation  of  the  nurses  of  the  Hospital,  and  the 
balance  for  a  brick  structure  for  the  care  and  treatment  of  any 
contagious  diseases  that  developed  in  the  institution. 

The  old  Clinic  Hall  was  remodeled  and  put  in  first-class  order. 
The  improvements  were  so  marked  that  the  medical  staff  concluded 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  339 

that  there  should  be  a  formal  re-opening,  and  it  should  be  an  event 
in  the  history  of  the  Hospital.  It  took  place  on  the  8th  of  October, 
1892.  Hon.  Edwin  S.  Stuart,  Mayor  of  the  city,  presided  and 
delivered  an  address.  A  large  audience  was  present,  including  the 
Directors  of  the  Department,  the  members  of  the  medical  staff,  a 
number  of  other  physicians  and  prominent  persons.  Addresses 
were  made  by  Dr.  Roland  G.  Curtin,  President  of  the  Medical  Staff, 
President  Lambert,  Messrs.  Gardner,  Moore  and  Huggard,  of  the 
Board  of  Directors,  Dr.  James  Tyson  and  Superintendent  Lawrence. 
As  Dr.  Curtin's  address  contained  much  information,  some  extracts 
from  it  are  inserted.     He  said  : 

''  Mr.  Presidefit,  Ladies  and  Gentlemen  :  The  members  of  the 
Medical  Staff  of  the  Philadelphia  Hospital  have  chosen  me  to  speak 
for  them  on  this  important  occasion — important  not  alone  to  the 
medical  staff,  but  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia  and  its  suffering  poor 
who  come  to  these  doors  for  relief. 

"  The  medical  staff  wish  me  to  thank  one  and  all  who  have 
been  instrumental  in  bringing  about  this  much  needed  improve- 
ment, in  the  planning  and  completion  of  which  our  Superintendent, 
Mr.  Lawrence,  has  taken  a  continuous  interest.  This  is  what  may 
be  called  practical  reform.  Let  us  at  this  time  contrast  the  old 
with  the  new,  and  see  what  has  been  accomplished  by  the  improve- 
ments made.  The  old  amphitheatre  or  operating  room,  which 
stood  between  the  walls  that  now  surround  us,  was  not  up  to  the 
requirements  of  modern  science.  It  was  unsafe  for  operations  ;  it 
was  dark  and  poorly  ventilated.  It  answered  well  enough  for  the 
period  in  which  it  was  built,  but  was  wholly  inadequate  for  this 
enlightened  age.  It  had  lived  its  life;  it  had  run  its  race. 
Until  1 856  the  old  clinic  room  was  not,  as  now,  connected  with 
the  hospital  by  a  covered  way.  The  patients  before  that  time 
were  carried  out  in  the  rain  or  snow,  often  to  their  disadvantage. 
I  was  chairman  of  the  committee  of  the  resident  physicians 
who  asked  the  Board  of  Guardians  to  have  the  covered  way 
built. 

"  The  post-mortem  room  and  dead  house,  where  all  the  germ- 
exhaling  bodies  were  carried  after  death,  and  where  autopsies  were 


340  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

held,  were  only  twenty  feet  away,  and  opened  into  a  hall  that  com- 
municated directly  with  the  old  operating  room. 

"  The  pathological  room,  where  specimens  were  taken  to  be 
mounted  for  the  museum,  was  entered  from  the  old  clinic  room, 
and  the  museum,  where  all  the  alcoholic  and  dried  specimens  were 
placed  on  exhibition,  surrounded  the  top  of  the  amphitheatre. 
These  conditions,  associated  with  an  old  wooden  floor,  which 
absorbed  the  fluids  for  germ-food  and  held  it  for  their  propagation, 
would  make  it  an  unsafe  place  for  operations.  The  picture  I  have 
given  would  shock  the  nerves  of  a  sensitive  modern  aseptic  and 
antiseptic  surgeon. 

"  But  now  how  different !  We  have  a  light,  roomy  building, 
beautiful  to  look  at,  connected  with  the  hospital  by  a  handsome, 
enclosed  passage-way,  by  means  of  which  the  patients  can  be  car- 
ried to  the  clinics  without  exposing  them  to  the  outside  air.  The 
ample  waiting  and  etherizing  rooms  which  surround  the  new  clinic 
are  another  ver}^  great  improvement.  You  will  all  please  observe 
that  the  new  room  has  a  hardwood  wainscot  and  cement  floor,  glass 
shelves  for  instruments,  also  hardwood  benches,  all  of  which  can 
be  thoroughly  cleansed.  The  heating  registers  are  placed  in  the 
upper  portion  of  the  steps,  so  that  the  dust  and  fluids  cannot  grav- 
itate into  them  with  poisonous  germs,  there  to  be  hatched  and 
propagated  by  the  general  steam  heat,  to  the  disadvantage  of  the 
old  sores  and  the  freshly-made  wounds  of  the  surgeon.  The  dead 
house,  post  mortem  room,  the  pathological  laboratory  and  museum, 
with  their  dangerous  effluvia,  have  been  removed  to  another  part  of 
the  grounds. 

"The  room  has  plenty  of  light  and  good  ventilatiofi,  and  can 
be  properly  cleansed,  all  of  which  gives  increased  safety  to  the 
sufferers  undergoing  operations.  We  may  expect  better  results 
than  could  have  been  obtained  in  the  past.  It  is  a  clinic  room 
constructed  in  accordance  to  the  rules  of  modern  sanitation  ;  it  is 
now  ample  in  size  and  as  good  and  comfortable  as  any  in  the  coun- 
try. It  is  a  great  credit  to  those  who  have  presided  over  the  insti- 
tution that  holds  the  welfare  of  the  indigent  poor  of  the  city  in 
their  hands 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  341 

"  The  two  side  walls  of  the  old  clinic  room  were  part  of  an 
entrance  from  the  street ;  two  cross  walls  were  erected  and  the 
enclosed  square  roofed  over  and  the  seats  placed  therein.  After 
thirty  years,  in  1891,  the  roof  was  taken  off  and  a  new  one  placed 
on  the  old  walls.  This  year,  1892,  thirty-one  years  after  its  dedi- 
cation, the  whole  has  been  torn  out  and  made  over,  and  the  modern 
clinic  room,  in  which  we  meet  together  to-day,  appears  as  you  see 
it  now.  Nothing  remains  of  the  former  hall  but  the  old  stone 
walls,  which  have  been  renewed  in  appearance  by  the  stucco 
covering 

"  It  may  not  be  amiss  to  call  attention  to  some  of  the  benefits 
derived  from  clinical  teaching  carried  on  in  Blockley.  "  Old 
Blockley  "  is  honored  all  over  the  land,  and  in  many  foreign  coun- 
tries by  the  teaching  that  has  been  given  here  by  such  lights  as 
Benjamin  Rush,  Gerhard,  Pennock,  Gross  (father  and  son)  Pan- 
coast  the  elder,  Ludlow,  Agnew,  and  others  who  have  gone  to  their 
reward ;  and  among  those  now  living  who  have  long  since  retired 
from  the  staff,  b}^  Stille,  Da  Costa,  Penrose,  Pepper,  Wood,  Tyson, 
Osier,  the  younger  Pancoast,  and  many  others  who  might  be  men- 
tioned if  time  permitted.  They  gave  their  valuable  time  without 
pecuniary  compensation  to  the  poor  of  Philadelphia.  How  much 
they  owed  to  Blockley  for  their  information  and  experience,  none 
can  tell.  We  all — patients  and  doctors — have  been  directly  or  in- 
directly benefited  by  their  teachings. 

"  Few  have  a  conception  of  the  multiplied  labors  of  the  chief 
resident  physician,  Dr.  Daniel  E.  Hughes,  in  an  institution  like 
this.  He  acts  not  only  as  physician-in-chief  to  the  insane  depart- 
ment, but  has  many  other  duties  connected  with  the  medical  w^ork 
of  the  hospital. 

"  I  have  made  a  calculation  that  in  thirty-one  years  fifteen  to 
twenty  thousand  students  have  attended  clinics  in  the  old  clinic 
room.  This  teaching  has  had  much  to  do  with  making  Philadel- 
phia the  medical  centre  of  the  United  States.  In  this  showing  we 
are  all  interested,  whether  laymen  or  doctors.  We  have  now  in 
Philadelphia  over  one  thousand  medical  students.  Let  us  suppose 
that  they  spend  six  hundred  dollars  each  year  apiece ;  this  makes 


342  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

an  average  of  six  hundred  thousand  dollars.  Leave  out  one-sixth 
for  medical  students  of  Philadelphia,  and  you  have  half  a  million  of 
dollars  spent  here  every  year.  This  money  is  distributed  not  alone 
in  the  colleges,  but  also  in  the  boarding  houses,  tailor  shops,  instru- 
ment makers,  shoe  stores  and  book  stores.  Moreover,  the  medical  stu- 
dents who  graduate  here  come  back  for  medical  and  other  supplies. 

"  By  Philadelphia  being  a  great  medical  centre,  thousands  of 
patients  come  here  annually  to  be  treated,  and  they  also  leave 
much  money  behind  for  board,  nursing,  shopping,  etc.  These 
facts  prove  that  the  city  at  large  is  benefited  financially  by  the 
medical  teaching ;  the  material  furnished  by  this  hospital  assists 
largely  in  giving  us  the  reputation  necessary  to  attract  students. 
We  should  all  be  interested  in  keeping  up  that  reputation,  and 
proud  to  assist  in  adding  to  her  honor  and  general  welfare. 

"  The  material  furnished  by  this  hospital  has  instructed  also 
our  family  physicians ;  we  know  the  benefit  of  their  experience. 
Again,  the  researches  here  have  settled  some  of  the  most  important 
questions  in  medicine.  It  was  here  that  Doctors  Gerhard  and 
Pennock  gave  to  the  medical  profession  post-mortem  evidence  of 
the  essential  difference  between  typhus  and  typhoid  fevers.  They 
showed  that  the  condition  of  the  intestines  in  the  one  forbids  solid 
food,  and  this  one  observation  alone  saved  thousands  of  lives  all 
over  the  world. 

"  Blockley  has  given  the  world  much  valuable  statistics  and 
information  which  have  been  published  in  journals,  text-books, 
addresses,  reports,  etc.,  and  this  seed  sown  broadcast  has  ripened 
into  multiplied  harvests  throughout  the  world.  Some  of  the  nota- 
ble literature  that  has  thus  emanated  from  the  valuable  experience 
here  gained  may  be  instanced  :  Gerhard  and  Pennock  on  the  dif- 
ferential diagnosis  between  typhus  and  typhoid  fever ;  Stille  on 
cholera  and  on  epidemic  cerebro-spinal  meningitus  ;  also  Dr.  W. 
H.  H.  Githens  on  the  same  subject;  Pepper  and  Parry  on  relap- 
sing fever,  and  many  other  valuable  essays  well-known  to  all  tlie 
medical  profession.  ...... 

*'  The  resident  staff  consisted  of  ten  in  1866.  The  nurses 
were  generally  persons  who  had  been  patients  and  numbered  about 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  343 

twenty.  The  visiting  medical  staff  of  physicians  was  composed  of 
twelve  members.  The  visiting  staff  has  been  increased  to  forty ; 
the  resident  staff  now  numbers  twenty-three ;  and  in  the  nurses 
school  we  have  about  one  Hundred  nurses. 

"  The  attendance  on  the  Philadelphia  Hospital  clinics  is  from 
all  the  colleges  in  the  city.  The  students  are  from  all  countries. 
I  have  seen  on  the  benches  Turks,  Roumanians,  Africans,  Cana- 
dians, Burmudans,  Brazilians,  Chilians  and  Japanese — male  and 
female — old  style,  new  style  and  eclectic.  All  students  are  wel- 
come, and  are  admitted  on  an  equal  footing  without  fee  or  reward, 
and  receive  tbe  best  practical  instruction  we  can  give.  The  facili- 
ties for  clinical  instruction  in  this  hospital  are  excelled  by  only 
about  four  hospitals  in  the  world,  and  by  none  on  this  side  of  the 
Atlantic.  This  Hospital  embraces  what  in  New  York  is  called 
Bellevue  Hospital  or  City  Hospital,  and  Charity  Hospital,  which 
is  associated  with  the  Almshouse,  criminal  institutions,  and  others 
that  are  under  city  control.  The  two  together  are  larger  than 
Blockley,  but  one  is  in  the  city  and  the  other  on  Blackwell's 
Island.  We  have  in  the  winter  over  twenty-two  hundred  sick  and 
nervous  patients  to  glean  from.  To  this  add  the  valuable  teaching 
in  pathology,  to  make  which  more  effective  we  have  sometimes 
opportunities  to  show  the  classes  not  only  the  case,  but  also  the 
.  pathological  specimens  from  the  bodies  of  the  patients  previously 
lectured  upon,  verifying  or  disproving  the  opinions  expressed  to 
the  students  in  the  clinics.  The  teaching  here  is  plain,  practical 
instruction.         .  .  .  .  . 

"  You  may  ask  what  benefit  the  clinics  are  to  the  patients.  I 
reply  that  the  clinic  cases  are  studied  more  carefully  than  the 
others.  They  are  examined  with  great  minuteness,  often  a  long 
time  before  being  shown  to  the  class  ;  they  are  looked  on  in  all 
their  aspects.  A  doctor  is  very  chary  of  the  diagnosis  he  makes 
before  a  class  ;  he  is  always  very  careful  how  he  presents  the  cases, 
and  his  treatment  is  thorough  and  scientific,  for  the  students  are 
great  critics,  and  sometimes  they  have  the  chance  of  seeing  the 
'  crucial  tests  '  commonly  known  as  post-mortems. 

"  You  may  ask,  do  patients  object  to   going   before   students  ? 


344  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


Such  objections  are  exceedingly  rare  and  are  always  respected. 
The  members  of  the  staff  will  all  bear  me  out  that  it  is  not  infre- 
quent for  the  patients  to  ask  to  be  lectured  on. 

"  In  concluding  my  remarks,  ladies  and  gentlemen,  T  cannot 
do  better  than  to  make  two  brief  quotations  from  Dr.  Agnew's  his- 
tory of  the  institution  : 

"'On  the  loth  of  September,  i860,'  he  says,  'the  medical 
board  addressed  the  Guardians  on  the  propriety  of  throwing  open 
the  wards  of  the  hospital  for  free  clinical  instruction.  This  propo- 
sition was  considered  from  a  liberal  and  intelligent  stand-point,  in 
its  broader  and  more  general  bearings,  and  on  the  24th  of  Septem- 
ber, i860,  received  their  cordial  sanction  ;  and  its  doors  have  been 
opened  to  this  time  ;  and  it  is  to  be  hoped  through  all  time  to  come 
its  doors  may  never  be  closed  against  or  a  fee  craved  from  those 
who  enter  its  halls  in  search  of  knowledge,  which  can  alone  render 
them  qualified  to  discharge  the  functions  of  a  divine  art.' 

"Again  he  says,  '  It  is  difficult  to  over-estimate  the  importance 
of  this  institution  to  either  the  profession  or  the  community.  To 
say  nothing  of  the  multiform  types  of  destitution  and  want  which 
it  meets  and  relieves,  look  at  the  field  which  it  offers  to  the  disci- 
ples of  medicine,  and  no  man  will  lightly  esteem  this  who  contem- 
plates the  prosecution  of  his  profession  with  a  conscience  void  of 
offence  towards  God  and  man.  Here  is  a  hospital  in  which  over 
eight  .thousand  cases  of  disease  are  annually  treated  ;  a  children's 
asylum,  offering  illustration  of  all  the  complaints  incident  to  this 
period  of  life ;  and  there  is  an  obstetrical  department",  in  which  as 
many  as  seven  cases  of  labor  have  occurred  in  twenty-four  hours, 
and  where  in  the  last  thirteen  years  over  two  thousand  six  hundred 
children  have  been  born.  One  year  industriously  spent  in  this  in- 
stitution will  yield  in  medical  experience  the  fruits  of  ten  years 
gathered  from  ordinary  practice.  But  to  place  the  statement  in 
another  form  ;  a  graduate  of  medicine  faithfully  improving  for  a 
single  year  his  opportunity  for  study  of  disease  in  the  wards  of  the 
Philadelphia  Hospital,  will  be  better  fitted  to  assume  the  responsi- 
bility of  his  profession  than  one  who  labors  ten  years  in  an  ordi- 
nary city  or  country  practice.'  " 


> 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

DESCRIPTION   OF   NURSES'    HOUSE    AND    ISOLATING    BUILDING— FIRE 
IN  LAUNDRY  AND    STOREHOUSE. 

AN  Ordinance  entitled  an   "  Ordinance  to  vacate   a  certain 
piece  of  ground  at  Thirty-third  and  South  Streets  for  the 
purpose  of  straightening  streets,  and  to  convey  the  same 
to  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,"  was  passed  on  the  5th 
of  January,  1893.     It  provided  : 

"That  all  that  tract  of  land  beginning  on  the  east  side  of 
Thirty-fourth  Street  at  a  point  225  feet  ^yi  inches  south  of  the 
south  side  of  Locust  Street ;  thence  southwardly  along  the  east 
line  of  Thirty-fourth  Street  150  feet,  more  or  less,  to  Spruce  Street ; 
thence  eastwardly  along  the  north  side  of  Spruce  Street  190  feet, 
more  or  less,  to  Thirty-third  Street ;  thence  along  Thirty-third 
Street  15  feet,  more  or  less  ;  thence  260  feet  3^^  inches  to  place  of 
heginning  shall  be  vacated,  and  that  so  much  of  the  Ordinance  ap- 
proved June  2ist,  1892,  providing  for  the  paving  of  the  said  piece 
of  ground  hereby  vacated  be,  and  the  same  is  hereby  repealed." 

It  authorized  the  Mayor  to  sign  a  deed  conveying  the  property 
vacated  to  the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  for  the 
use  of  the  University  for  its  authorized  educational  purposes,  and 
subject  to  the  conditions  that  said  land  should  never  be  alienated, 
and  further  that  no  buildings  other  than  for  educational  purposes 
should  ever  be  erected  thereon. 

The  erection  of  the  building  for  the  accommodation  of  the 
nurses  in  the  hospital  effected  a  great  change  in  their  mode  of 
living.  The  structure  is  134  feet  8  inches  long  and  78  feet  10 
inches  wide,  with  corridors  ten  feet  wide  the  entire  length  of  each 
story,  terminating  in  bays,  with  transverse  corridors  seven  feet 
wide,  also  terminating  in  bays,  and  with  broad  stairways  at  the 
intersection  of  corridors  at  each  end  of  the  building.  The  first 
story  is  twelve  feet  high  in  the  clear,  the  second  and  third  stories 
•each  nine  feet  high,  plastered  on  hollow  brick  walls  with  hard  pol- 

345 


346  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

ished  finish  coat  cement,  washboards  or  bases  and  rounded  corners 
throughout,  the  amount  of  wood  finish  being  reduced  to  a  minimum. 

There  are  accommodations  on  the  three  floors  for  120  nurses, 
exclusive  of  the  fourth  floor,  which  has  a  central  dormitory  about 
62  by  34  feet,  and  two  (north  and  south)  attics,  60  by  25  feet  each. 
The  exterior  is  of  simple  hard  brick,  with  marble  and  terra  cotta. 
trimmings  ;  the  roofing  is  of  green  slate  with  copper  flushings  and 
gutters,  and  the  porches  on  the  east  and  west  fronts  are  supported 
by  brick  arches  and  terra  cotta  with  marble  coping,  the  asphalt 
roofs  of  the  porches  serving  for  an  open  balcony,  heavy  glass  floor 
lights  having  been  introduced  to  prevent  darkening  of  lower  rooms. 

Mr.  John  Huggard,  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  died  on  the  24th 
of  January,  1894,  after  a  lingering  illness.  Resolutions  were 
passed  by  the  Directors,  expressing  the  appreciation  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  the  valuable  services  rendered  by  Mr.  Hug- 
gard,  and  their  sorrow  for  his  death.  Mr.  John  Shallcross  was 
appointed  by  Mayor  Stuart  to  fill  the  vacancy. 

An  ordinance  was  passed  on  March  30th,  1894,  that  ordained  : 
^  That  so  much  of  the  Almshouse  grounds  which  was  set  apart 
for  public  park  purposes  under  and  by  virtue  of  the  ordinance 
approved  Julv  6th,  1883,  as  is  described  as  follows  :  '  All  that  certain 
lot  or  piece  of  ground  in  the  Twenty-seventh  Ward  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia,  beginning  at  the  southeast  corner  of  Thirty-fourth 
and  Spruce  Streets ;  along  said  Spruce  Street  to  intersection  with 
southwest  side  of  South  Street ;  thence  to  the  northwest  boundary 
of  the  right  of  way  of  the  West  Chester  and  Philadelphia  Rail- 
road Company ;  thence  along  the  same  to  the  northeast  side  of 
Almshouse  or  Blockley  Lane  ;  thence  along  the  same  to  the  north- 
west boundary  of  the  present  Water  Department  storage  yard  ; 
thence  along  this  line  to  the  northeastward  400  feet ;  thence  north- 
west along  a  line  parallel  to  and  30  feet  to  the  northeast  of  the 
northeast  wall  of  the  present  Almshouse  stone  barn  for  a  distance 
of  350  feet ;  thence  southwest  along  a  line  parallel  to  and  about  30 
feet  to  the  northwest  of  the  northwest  wall  of  said  barn  to  its  inter- 
section with  the  east  side  of  Thirty-fourth  Street ;  thence  along  the 
same  to  Spruce   Street  and  place  of  beginning,  containing  eight 


History  of  Pliiladelpliia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  347 

acres,  more  or  less,  shall  be  forthwith  opened  to  use  as  a  public 
park  forever.' 

"  For  the  purpose  of  securing  the  suitable  improvement  of  the 
same,  said  lot  of  ground  above  described  shall  be  conveyed  to 
the  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  trust  to  lay 
out  and  maintain  the  same  forever  as  for  a  Museum  and  a  Botani- 
cal Park  and  Garden,  without  expense  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia, 
to  be  opened  to  the  free  access  of  the  public  at  all  times  forever^ 
under  suitable  regulations,  to  be  from  time  to  time  agreed  upon  by 
said  Trustees  and  the  Mayor  of  said  City,  and  also  to  erect  thereon 
a  Museum  of  Science  and  Art,  without  expense  to  the  said  City : 
Provided,  that  the  said  grounds  shall  be  placed  in  the  proper  con- 
dition for  the  purposes  of  this  ordinance  within  five  years  from  the 
date  of  the  execution  of  the  deed  creating  and  accepting  said  trust 
herein  created,  said  deed  of  trust  to  be  prepared  by  the  City  Solici- 
tor, with  all  suitable  covenants  and  provisions  necessary  to  carry 
out  the  intents  of  this  ordinance  and  secure  the  privileges  of  all 
parties  named,  to  be  executed  by  the  Mayor  of  said  City  and  said 
Trustees,  with  the  proper  legal  authority  accepting  the  same ;  and 
provided  further,  That  in  the  event  of  the  failure  on  the  part  of  the 
said  Trustees  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  to  place  said 
grounds  in  the  proper  condition  for  the  purposes  of  this  ordinance 
within  five  years,  or  of  maintaining  the  same  as  a  Museum  and  a 
Botanical  Garden  and  Park  and  keeping  the  same  open  to  the  pub- 
lic as  aforesaid,  at  all  times  hereafter  forever,  or  shall  divert  the 
same  grounds  to  any  other  purposes  than  those  specified  in  this 
ordinance,  then  the  trust  created  by  this  ordinance  shall  cease  and 
determine,  and  this  ordinance  and  all  privileges  granted  hereunder 
shall  become  null  and  void,  and  the  said  property  shall  revert  to 
the  City  of  Philadelphia  free  and  discharged  of  any  and  all  trusts 
hereby  created,  or  expense  or  obligation  created  by  reason  of  this 
ordinance." 

The  passage  of  this  ordinance  necessitated  the  removal  of  the 
goods  from  the  yard  used  by  the  Water  Department  for  the  storage 
of  pipes,  the  large  free  public  bath  house  on  Spruce  Street  and 
several  buildings  belonging  to  the  Almshouse. 


348  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

The  Isolating  Building  was  designed  by  the  Superintendent 
and  erected  from  plans  made  by  him.  It  was  built  of  brick,  one 
story  high,  and  deserves  more  than  passing  mention.  It  is  S8  feet 
in  length  and  26  feet  wide,  with  an  enclosed  porch  of  wood  and 
glass  around  one  end  and  the  two  sides.  A  brick  partition  wall, 
extending  to  the  roof,  is  built  lengthwise  through  the  centre,  divid- 
ing it  into  two  halves,  one  for  males  and  the  other  for  females. 
These  parts  are  divided  into  rooms  by  brick  partitions  running  to 
the  roof,  so  that  each  room  has  a  brick  wall  around  the  whole  four 
sides.  Doors  open  from  each  room  to  the  porch,  and  there  is  no 
communication  from  one  room  to  another.  The  floors  are  cement, 
and  the  walls  and  ceilings  are  covered  with  adamant  cement 
painted.  A  register  in  each  room  furnishes  the  necessary  heat, 
and  the  ventilation  is  secured  by  a  ventilator  through  the  ceiling 
and  roof  of  each  room,  together  with  the  windows  and  movable 
transoms  over  the  doors.  There  are  two  rooms  for  the  nurses  at 
one  end,  and  two  for  bath-rooms,  lavatories,  etc.,  at  the  other,  with 
seven  on  each  side  for  the  patients,  all  supplied  with  gas.  The 
floors  are  four  feet  above  the  ground,  and  as  the  walls  are  built  on 
arches,  a  free  circulation  of  air  is  secured  under  them. 

The  maternity  wards  were  much  improved  by  building  an 
addition,  which  connected  the  two  buildings  and  added  a  much 
larger  room  than  any  they  had  before. 

A  very  important  ordinance  was  approved  on  the  27th  of  June, 
1895.  It  was  entitled  "An  Ordinance  to  authorize  the  immediate 
opening  of  a  portion  of  the  Almshouse  grounds,  set  apart  for  park 
purposes  by  the  ordinance  approved  July  6,  1883,  for  public  use  as 
a  park  and  for  a  museum,  and  conveying  the  same  to  the  Board  of 
Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museum  in  trust  for  the  purposes 
herein  set  forth."     The  full  text  of  the  bill  follows  : 

''Section  i.  The  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  the  City 
of  Philadelphia  do  ordain,  That  so  much  of  the  Almshouse  grounds 
which  was  set  apart  for  public  park  purposes  under  and  by  virtue 
of  the  ordinance  approved  July  6,  1883,  as  is  described  as  follows: 
Beginning  at  a  point  in  the  northeast  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue, 
100  feet  wide,  as  the  same  is  proposed  to  be  laid  out  on  the  revised 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  349 

plan  of  the  City,  at  the  distance  of  40  feet  and  %  inch  northeast 
from  the  northwest  line  of  the  property  of  the  Philadelphia  and 
West  Chester  Railroad,  and  extending  thence  along  the  northeast 
side  of  the  said  Cleveland  Avenue,  north  4°  23'  19.4"  west,  92  feet, 
2^  inches  to  a  point;  thence  along  a  line  parallel  with  Vintage 
Avenue  and  279  feet,  3^8  inches  southeast  from  the  northwest  side 
thereof,  north  61°  28'  36"  east  1,551  feet,  i3/^'  inches  to  a  point  on 
the  southwest  of  a  certain  46-feet  lane,  known  as  Blockley  Lane ; 
thence  along  the  southwest  side  of  the  said  Blockley  Lane,  south 
48°  59'  30"  east,  248  feet,  2%  inches  to  a  point  on  the  northwest 
side  of  a  proposed  40  feet  wide  drive  to  be  laid  out  along  the 
line  of  the  Philadelphia  and  West  Chester  Railroad  ;  thence  along 
the  northwest  side  of  the  said  proposed  drive  the  following  courses 
and  distances  thereof,  viz:  south  42°  38' 55.5"  west  2  feet,  i^ 
inches  to  a  point ;  thence  south  58°  26'  25"  west  34  feet,  5^  inches 
to  a  point;  thence  south  61°  15'  24.7"  west  1022  feet,  5^  inches  to 
a  point;  thence  south  68°  37'  50"  west  57  feet,  10%  inches  to  a 
point ;  thence  south  70°  08'  50"  west  79  feet,  11^  inches  to  a  point; 
thence  south  70°  38'  19"  west  iii  feet,  2/'^  inches  to  a  point ;  thence 
south  76°  55'  59"  west,  97  feet,  ^  inch  to  a  point ;  thence  south 
jj°  26'  21"  west  101  feet,  2}i  inches  to  a  point;  thence  south  jd>° 
41'  11''  west  96  feet,  ^8  inch  to  a  point;  thence  south  83°  36'  30" 
west  94  feet,  1 1  >i(  inches  to  a  point  in  the  northeast  of  the  afore- 
said Cleveland  Avenue  and  place  of  beginning — containing  eight 
acres  of  ground,  more  or  less,  shall  be  forthwith  opened  to  use  as  a 
public  park  forever. 

"Section  2.— Whereas  the  City  of  Philadelphia  has  come 
into  possession  of  certain  collections  of  great  extent  and  value 
which  have. been  presented  to  the  City  by  various  foreign  govern- 
ments upon  the  pledge  that  said  collections  shall  be  suitably  cared 
for  by  the  City  of  Philadelphia ;  and  whereas  by  ordinance 
approved  on  the  15th  day  of  June,  1894,  there  was  created  a  Board  of 
Trustees  for  establishing  public  museums  to  whose  custody  the 
aforementioned  collections  were  consigned  with  instructions  to 
secure  funds  and  a  suitable  site  for  museum  buildings  to  accommo- 
date said  collections,  the  present  ordinance  provides  that  the  portion 


350  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouse  sand  Hospitals. 

of  the  Almshouse  grounds  described  above  in  Section  i,  shall  be 
entrusted  to  said  Board  of  Trustees  as  a  site  for  the  museum  build- 
ings to  accommodate  said  collections  : 

"  Provided^  That  the  said  grounds  and  said  museum  buildings 
thereon  to  be  erected  shall  be  forever  open  to  the  free  access  of  the 
public  at  all  times  forever  under  suitable  regulations  to  be  from 
time  to  time  agreed  upon  by  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  and 
approved  by  City  Councils  ; 

^'  Provided^  That  the  said  grounds  shall  be  subject  to  the  use 
and  occupation  by  the  Department  of  Charities  and  Correction  for 
the  purposes  of  its  present  use  until  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the 
Philadelphia  Museums  shall  be  ready  to  proceed  with  the  erection 
of  the  museum  building,  it  being  further  provided  that  no  building 
or  buildings  of  any  kind,  character  or  description  shall  be  erected 
on  said  ground  by  the  Department  of  Charities  and  Correction  ;  and 

"  Provided^  That  said  Board  of  Trustees  may  go  forward  at 
once  with  the  proper  planting  of  trees  and  plants  in  accordance 
with  the  plans  adopted  for  laying  out  said  grounds  as  a  public 
park." 

This  ground  was  part  of  the  field  in  front  of  the  institution, 
and  was  used  as  a  garden  for  raising  vegetables  for  the  inmates,  a 
number  of  whom  were  employed  for  that  purpose  and  saved  con- 
siderable expense. 

On  the  night  of  August  i4tli,  1895,  at  a  few  minutes  after 
eleven  o'clock,  fire  was  discovered  in  the  ironing- room  of  the 
insane  department.  The  stone  wall  that  divided  the  outwards  from 
the  insane  department,  served  to  separate  the  laundry  on  the  one 
side  from  the  general  storehouse  on  the  other  on  the  ground  floors. 
On  the  second-story  over  the  drying  room,  and  extending  over  the 
rear  end  of  the  storehouse  was  located  the  ironing  room.  No 
person  had  been  in  either  of  these  buildings  after  5.30  o'clock  ;  one 
of  the  night  watchmen  passed  them,  while  on  his  rounds  through 
the  institution,  not  more  than  five  minutes  before  the  fire  was  seen, 
and  he  reported  that  he  did  not  see  any  signs  of  fire  at  that  time, 
so  it  is  impossible  to  say  how  the  fire  originated.  The  flames 
spread  with  wonderful  rapidity,  and  the  Superintendent  immedi- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  351 

ately  ordered  the  fire  alarm  to  be  rung  at  the  Electrical  Bureau. 
Men  were  sent  to  the  gates  to  open  them  when  the  firemen  arrived 
and  to  close  them  after  they  had  entered.  The  hose  was  run  out 
from  the  insane  wards,  and  the  hose  cart  and  steam  fire  engine 
were  taken  over,  and  attachments  made  to  the  plugs.  The  water 
supply  was  so  scant  that  the  streams  could  not  do  much  good  and 
the  storehouse  was  soon  ablaze. 

The  safety  of  the  inmates  was  looked  after,  and  the  insane 
patients  were  quickly  and  quietly  removed  from  the  building  that 
faced  the  fire  to  wards  in  the  rear.  The  inmates  in  the  outwards 
were  in  condition  to  be  taken  out  at  any  time  if  it  became  neces- 
sary. Everything  was  done  to  prevent  a  panic  or  undue  excite- 
ment, and  so  well  was  the  discipline  maintained  that  not  an  accident 
occurred  and  no  one  was  injured  in  the  slightest  manner. 

Very  little  was  left  of  the  burnt  buildings  but  the  walls,  and 
nearly  all  of  the  contents  were  destroyed  or  damaged.  Temporary 
store-rooms  were  fitted  up  and  food  supplies  for  immediate  use 
were  ordered  ;  the  meals  were  served  on  the  following  day  as 
usual. 

President  Lambert  in  his  annual  report  said :  "  Great  credit  is 
due  Superintendent  Lawrence  for  excellent  management  under 
exciting  circumstances,  and  for  his  prompt  disposition  to  meet  the 
emergency." 

The  Superintendent  in  his  report  said :  "  If  the  mains  from 
which  we  draw  our  supply  have  not  the  proper  pressure  we  could 
not  get  suf&cient  water  even  with  a  larger  pipe.  I  would  again 
sugg'est  that  a  pumping  engine  could  be  placed  on  our  wharf,  to 
draw  water  from  the  Schuylkill  River  to  supply  the  pipes  for  fire 
and  other  purposes  that  do  not  require  subsidized  or  filtered  water. 
Millions  of  dollars  worth  of  property,  belonging  to  the  City  and 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  are  in  adjoining  blocks,  and  could 
be  protected  in  this  manner  at  a  comparatively  small  cost.  We 
have  pipes  run  up  through  all  our  buildings  and  have  hose 
attached  at  all  times  on  each  floor  to  be  used  in  case  of  fire.  If  we 
do  not  have  water  in  the  pipes  the  hose  is  useless,  and  we  have  no 
protection.     If  there  had  been  water  and  pressure  enough,  I  have 


352  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

no  doubt  tliat  the  fire  would  have  been  extinguished  in  a  short 
time,  and  with  much  less  damage  and  loss." 

The  storehouse  was  rebuilt  and  very  much  improved  by  putting 
on  a  hip-roof  with  girders  and  trusses  in  place  of  the  low,  flat  one 
that  was  on  it  previous  to  the  fire.  Two  large  skylights  were 
erected,  and  now  it  is  a  well-lighted  store  with  a  cement  floor  125 
by  40  feet,  entirely  free  of  posts,  with  excellent  ventilation  and  all 
of  the  modern  appliances  to  do  the  work. 

The  laundry  for  the  insane  department  was  rebuilt  of  brick 
and  made  two-stories  in  height.  There  is  no  connection  with  the 
storehouse,  and  no  danger  of  fire  spreading  from  one  to  the  other 
building.  On  the  ground  floor  is  the  wash-room,  then  the  drying 
room  with  about  forty  horses  in  the  steam  closets,  and  connected 
with  the  ironing  room.  On  the  second  floor  are  three  workshops, 
about  50  by  20  feet  each,  with  windows  on  all  sides. 

In  the  Chief  Resident  Physician's  Report,  of  that  year, 
he  says  : 

"  The  completion  during  the  year  of  the  Nurse's  House  has 
added  nine  elegant  wards  to  the  hospital  service,  and  given  much 
relief  to  the  Men's  Surgical,  Men's  Medical,  and  Women's  Medical 
Sections.  It  may  be  safely  stated  that  the  surgical  wards  are  not 
excelled  by  those  of  any  hospital  in  the  City,  and  with  the  addi- 
tion of  the  proposed  water,  instrument,  and  dressing  sterilizers, 
they  will  not  be  equalled." 

President  Lambert  in  his  report  of  that  year  said :  "  The 
Directors  of  the  Department  are  confident  that  neither  of  the  insti- 
tutions in  their  charge  has  ever  been  in  better  condition  than  now, 
and  in  this  fact  with  its  resultant  benefits  to  the  thousands  of  the 
sick,  homeless  and  unfortunates  who  have  care  and  shelter  within 
these  institutions,  the  Directors  find  compensation  for  the  time  and 
thought  devoted  to  the  City's  interest. 

"  For  the  excellent  condition  of  the  institutions  and  for  their 
efiicient  administration  with  their  manifold  and  perplexing  duties 
and  details,  the  Department  is  indebted  to  the  respective  Superin- 
tendents, Charles  Lawrence  and  Edwin  A.  Merrick,  and  I  take 
pleasure  in  acknowledging  my  high  appreciation  of  their  faithful, 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  353 

intelligent  and  able  discharge  of  duty,  and  in  thanking  them  and 
their  associates  for  their  conduct  of  the  important  interests 
entrusted  to  their  charge." 

Another  important  bill  was  approved  on  the  loth  day  of  Octo- 
ber, 1896.     It  reads  as  follows  : 

"  Section  i.  The  Select  and  Common  Councils  of  the  City  of 
Philadelphia  do  ordain,  That  whereas  the  City  of  Philadelphia  has 
received  and  agreed  to  care  for  extensive  and  valuable  collections 
of  Commercial,  Educational  and  Scientific  material,  and  has  created 
a  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museums  charged  with 
this  especial  duty,  and  has  made  appropriations  to  said  Board  for 
tbe  erection  of  suitable  buildings  and  for  the  maintenance  of  said 
museums,  and  has  by  ordinance,  approved  June  27th,  1895,  trans- 
ferred to  said  Board  in  trust  for  the  purposes  of  said  Museum  a 
certain  portion  of  the  Almshouse  ground  set  apart  for  park  pur- 
poses by  the  ordinance  approved  July  6,  1883,  which  certain  por- 
tion of  said  ground  is  described  in  said  ordinance,  approved  June 
27tli  1895,  such  additional  portion  of  said  Almshouse  grounds  was 
set  apart  for  public  Park  purposes  as  is  described  as  follows  : 

"  '  All  that  certain  lot  or  piece  of  ground  in  tbe  Twenty-seventh 
Ward,  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia,  beginning  at  the  southeast 
corner  of  Vintage  Avenue  and  Blockley  Lane,  thence  extending 
eastward  along  the  south  side  of  Blockley  I^ane  to  the  line  of  the 
land  described  in  ordinance  approved  June  27th,  1895,  ^^  trans- 
ferred to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museums; 
thence  along  the  west  boundary  of  said  land  to  the  north  side  of 
Cleveland  Avenue,  thence  along  the  north  side  of  Cleveland 
Avenue  to  the  east  side  of  Vintage  Avenue  thence  along  the 
east  side  of  Vintage  Avenue  to  the  south  side  of  Blockley  Lane 
and  place  of  beginning,  containing  seven  acres,  more  or  less ; 
and  also  that  strip  of  land,  forty  feet  wide,  bounded  on  the  east  by 
the  line  of  the  Philadelphia  and  West  Chester  Railroad,  and  on  the 
west  by  the  line  of  the  land  described  in  ordinance  approved  June 
27th,  1895,  as  transferred  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Museums,  and  extending  from  the  south  side  of  Blockley 
Lane  to  the  north  side  of  Cleveland  Avenue  shall  be  forthwith 
23 


354  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

opened  to  use  as  a  public  Park  for  ever,  and  shall  be,  and  is  hereby 
assigned  in  trust  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia 
Museums  for  the  purposes  of  said  institution : 

"  '  Provided^  That  the  said  ground  and  the  said  museum  build- 
ings thereon  to  be  erected  shall  be  forever  open  to  the  free  access 
of  the  public  at  all  times  forever  under  suitable  regulations  to  be 
from  time  to  time  agreed  upon  by  the  said  Board  of  Trustees  and 
approved  by  City  Councils  :  Provided^  That  the  said  property  shall 
be  subject  to  the  use  and  occupation  by  the  Department  of  Charities 
and  Correction  for  the  purposes  of  its  present  use  until  the  Board 
of  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museums  shall  be  ready  to  proceed 
v^ith  the  erection  of  the  museum  buildings,  it  being  further  pro- 
vided that  no  building  or  buildings  of  any  kind,  character  or 
description  shall  be  erected  on  said  ground  by  the  Department  of 
Charities  and  Correction  :  A?id^  Provided^  That  said  Board  of 
Trustees  may  go  forward  at  once  with  the  proper  planting  of  trees 
and  plants  in  accordance  with  the  plans  adopted  for  laying  out  said 
ground  as  a  Public  Park.'  " 

This  took  the  other  part  of  the  ground  in  front  of  the  institu- 
tion and  left  it  surrounded  by  land  that  had  been  taken  from  the 
Department  and  transferred  to  other  corporations,  thus  leaving  it 
without  any  ground  upon  which  to  erect  buildings  to  relieve  the 
crowded  condition  of  the  institution. 

The  removal  of  the  Almshouse  has  again  been  agitated,  but 
the  purchase  of  the  ground  for  that  purpose  has  not  been  accomp- 
lished; in  fact  the  location  has  not  been  decided  upon,  and  the 
Almshouse  will  remain  where  it  is  for  some  years  longer. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

IMPROVEMENT  IN  TREATING  PATIENTS. 

HOW  to  improve  the  condition  of  the  insane  patients  caused 
much  thought  to  the  officials.  Everything  that  could  be 
done  to  accomplish  that  object  was  carried  out.  Freeh 
air  and  exercise  was  a  policy  of  the  management,  no 
opportunity  being  omitted  (weather  permitting)  during  the  entire 
year,  to  give  walking  exercises  twice  a  day  to  all  patients  who 
were  able.  During  the  warm  weather  the  patients  were  kept  in 
the  yards  during  the  entire  day  and  were  encouraged  to  engage  in 
games.  Weekly  concerts  were  given  by  a  band  employed  by  the 
representatives  of  the  "  Mary  Shields  Almshouse  Fund."  They 
also  furnished  stage  coaches  to  take  a  selected  number  of  the 
patients,  with  the  necessary  attendants,  for  a  ride  through  the 
Park  and  to  other  places.  Trolley  car  rides  were  arranged  for  by 
some  ladies,  and  the  patients  were  taken  to  the  "  McMurtrie  " 
home  at  Chestnut  Hill,  where  they  were  furnished  with  refresh- 
ments and  given  a  delightful  day's  outing.  During  the  fall  and 
winter  months  the  amusement  hall  was  used  frequently  for  concerts 
and  other  entertainments.  The  use  of  instrumental  and  vocal 
music  was  encouraged ;  an  orchestra  was  formed  under  the  direc- 
tion of  an  employee  in  the  Department,  and  as  several  of  the 
patients  were  musicians,  it  soon  became  a  valuable  aid  ;  a  choir, 
consisting  of  forty  voices,  both  male  and  female,  was  selected  and 
trained  by  Mrs.  D.  E.  Hughes,  wife  of  the  Chief  Resident  Physi- 
cian, and  after  much  patience,  perseverence  and  labor,  for  which 
she  is  entitled  to  great  credit,  she  succeeded  in  having  it  able  to 
render  the  most  difficult  sacred  selections  for  the  religious  services, 
which  are  held  on  every  Sunday,  as  well  as  a  great  variety  of  songs 
and  choruses  for  the  secular  entertainments. 

These  have  been  of  great  benefit  to  the  poor  unfortunates  in 
that  department.  Music  is  beneficial  to  them  in  many  respects  ; 
it  breaks  the  monotony  of  their  lives  and  takes  their  minds  off  of 
their  imaginary   troubles.     If  the  truth   were  known  there  is  no 

355 


356  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

doubt  that  many  recoveries  could  be  traced  to  the  soothing  influ- 
ence of  music  and  the  songs  furnished  at  the  entertainments. 

Employment  is  another  great  help,  and  every  opportunity  was 
embraced  to  introduce  and  extend  it.  At  the  request  of  the  Super- 
intendent, a  workshop  was  fitted  up  in  the  kitchen  that  had  been 
erected  by  the  Mary  Shields'  estate,  and  which  was  replaced  by  the 
larger  one  erected  in  1891,  and  the  expense  of  alterations,  tools, 
etc.,  was  defrayed  by  the  same  estate.  A  brush-making  shop  was 
started  with  gratifying  success,  and  furnished  employment  for 
thirty-three  patients.  After  a  sufiicient  number  of  brushes  to 
furnish  the  institution  was  made,  it  was  turned  into  a  mattress  fac- 
tory. All  of  the  ticking,  fibre  for  filling,  twine,  etc.,  required  has 
been  paid  for  by  the  Mary  Shields'  estate,  and  while  it  has  been 
the  means  of  furnishing  employment  it  has  also  given  hundreds  of 
first-class  mattresses  to  the  insane  and  hospital  departments  to  take 
the  place  of  the  straw  beds  that  had  previously  been  used.  The 
average  number  employed  in  various  ways  during  the  year  was, 
males,  295;  females,  313.  Dr.  Hughes  in  one  of  his  annual 
reports  said  :  "  It  is  unquestionable  that  the  prompt  use  of  intelli- 
,gent  employment  has  done  wonders  in  establishing  rapid  con- 
valescence and  complete  restoration  in  a  very  large  number  of 
cases." 

The  astounding  increase  of  insane  cases  that  came  to  the 
institution  that  began  in  1892,  continued.  The  Superint^^ndent  in 
his  report  for  the  year  1896,  said,  "  The  crowded  condition  of  the 
insane  department  was  somewhat  relieved  by  the  transfer  cf  41 
chronic  cases  to  the  asylum  at  Wernersville.  We  have  good 
accommodations  for  1050  patients,  and  all  above  that  number  is  at 
the  expense  of  the  comfort  of  the  others.  It  is  necessary  that 
steps  should  be  taken  at  once  to  relieve  the  crowded  condition  of 
this  department,  and  I  would  again  suggest  that  the  quickest  and, 
I  think,  the  best  would  be  to  have  the  Acts  exempting  the  other 
poor  districts  in  the  County  from  the  operation  of  the  law  placing 
Almshouses  and  Hospitals  under  the  control  and  management  of 
this  Department,  amended  or  repealed.  If  we  had  possession  of 
the  Oxford  and  Lower  Dublin  Almshouse,  buildings  sufficient  for 


History  of  Pliiladelphia  Almshouses  and   Hospitals.  357 

present  purposes  at  least  could  soon  be  erected,  and  our  surplus 
removed  there." 

President  Lambert,  in  his  annual  report  to  the  Mayor,  said  : 
"  The  most  serious  and  urgent  need  of  the  Department  is  increased 
accommodation  for  the  insane.  The  increase  in  number  of  these 
unfortunates  demanding  our  care  has  exceeded  our  ability  to  prop- 
erly house  them — the  number  in  the  institution  at  this  date  is 
1228,  an  increase  of  337,  since  December  31st,  1891.  The  capacity 
of  the  insane  wards  is  1050,  the  excess  of  that  number  are  cared  for 
at  the  expense  of  all. 

"  The  cession  to  other  institutions  of  the  greater  and  better 
portion  of  the  grounds  formerly  controlled  by  the  Department,  out- 
side of  the  walls  surrounding  its  main  buildings  have  rendered 
impossible  the  erection  of  additional  and  suitable  buildings  for  the 
accommodation  of  our  increased  population.  The  number  of  build- 
ings already  within  the  enclosure  precludes  any  material  addition. 

"  Even  if  new  buildings  were  allowed  by  the  State  Board  of 
Public  Charities,  they  would  necessarily  be  small  and  give  but 
scanty  and  temporary  relief.  The  crowded  condition  of  the  State 
Hospitals  for  the  Insane  which  has  prevented  them  from  relieving 
us  to  any  appreciable  extent  forbids  hope  for  help  from  them. 

"  Provision  has  been  made  in  the  recent  loan  bill  for  purchase 
of  a  site  for  a  new  Almshouse — but  the  relief  which  would  be 
furnished  by  erection  of  the  building  is  too  far  remote  to  assist  in 
meeting  present  needs. 

"  In  this  emergency  the  only  prospect  of  relief  which  presents 
itself  is  that  which  would  follow  such  amendment  to  existing  laws 
as  would  place  within  the  control  of  this  Department  all  of  the 
poor-houses  of  the  County — several  of  which  are  and  have  been 
since  the  Act  of  Consolidation  in  charge  of  separate  boards  of 
directors.  Whatever  local  influences  in  earlier  years  sufliced  to 
secure  to  these  separate  existence  should  have  little  force  now — 
when  the  numbers  sheltered  in  the  suburban  poorhouses  are  few  in 
number,  and  utterly  disproportionate  to  the  space  they  occupy — 
whilst  the  main  City  institution  is  crowded  to  excess.  The  addi- 
tion to  our  resources  of  the  grounds  of  the  Oxford  and  Lower  Dub- 


'358  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

lin  Almshouse  would  enable  us  within  a  few  weeks  or  months  at 
most  to  give  relief  to  our  insane — provide  for  the  City's  needs  in 
this  respect  for  years  to  come,  and  permit  the  question  of  removal 
of  the  Almshouse  and  Hospital  to  be  treated  with  proper  delibera- 
tion and  regard  to  the  great  interests  involved.  Humanity 
demands  speedy  relief  for  our  insane  patients,  and  we  ask  for  our 
suggestion  your  earnest  attention,  and,  if  as  we  hope  it  shall  meet 
with  your  approval,  that  by  all  means  in  your  power,  you  strive  to 
put  it  into  practical  effect." 

That  was  an  earnest  plea,  from  a  kind-hearted  official,  for  relief 
for  the  poor  unfortunate  wards  of  the  City,  but  it  did  not  succeed 
in  accomplishing  the  object  sought. 

The  term  of  office  of  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  De- 
partment who  had  been  appointed  by  Mayor  Stuart  expired  on  the 
first  Monday  of  April,  1897,  and  Mayor  Warwick  appointed  a  new 
Board,  composed  of  William  H.  Lambert,  President,  Messrs.  Alfred 
Moore,  William  D.  Gardner,  Joseph  H.  Mann  and  Henry  B.  Gross. 

Messrs.  Lambert,  Moore  and  Gardner  had  served  on  the  old 
Board  and  were  re-appointed ;  Messrs.  Mann  and  Gross  took  the 
places  of  Dr.  Walk  and  Mr.  Shallcross. 

President  Lambert  in  his  annual  report  for  1897,  said:  "'  The 
continuous  increase  in  the  number  of  insane  committed  to  our  care 
and  our  inability  to  provide  adequate  accommodations  for  them 
still  constitutes  the  most  serious  condition  which  confronts  the 
Department. 

''  We  had  hoped  that  favorable  action  would  be  taken  by  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  upon  the  proposition  to  place  under  con- 
trol of  this  Department,  the  several  poor  districts  of  the  County 
which  are  in  charge  of  independent  local  boards  of  directors  ;  but 
being  disappointed  in  this  we  were  forced  to  resort  to  other  methods 
for  the  relief  of  our  crowded  wards.  The  practical  impossibility  of 
erecting  new  buildings  within  our  enclosure  compelled  us  to  ask 
assent  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities  to  place  an  additional  or 
third-story  upon  each  of  the  four  two-story  buildings  of  the  Insane 
Department ;  an  assent  which  that  Board  was  reluctant  to  give, 
because  of  its  pronounced  policy  of  limiting  hospital  buildings  to 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  359 

the  height  of  two  stories,  but  which  they  granted,  because  con- 
vinced that  under  existing  circumstances  there  was  no  early  pros- 
pect of  relief  in  any  other  manner. 

"  So  authorized,  we  received  your  consent  to  apply  to  Councils 
for  an  appropriation  of  the  balance,  $40,663.83,  remaining  in  the 
Sinking  Fund  to  the  credit  of  this  Department.  The  appropria- 
tion was  made,  plans  were  prepared  which  had  the  approval  of  the 
State  Board  of  Charities,  and  proposals  were  received  from  several 
builders,  including  some  of  the  highest  standing  ;  but,  unfortu- 
nately, even  under  the  lowest  bid,  the  amount  at  our  disposal  was 
only  sufficient  to  allow  the  erection  of  the  additional  stories  on  two 
of  the  four  buildings,  and  to  make  no  provision  for  the  change  in 
heating.  The  pressure  for  room  was,  however,  so  great  that  we 
could  not  postpone  action  until  sufficient  funds  for  the  entire  work 
could  be  obtained,  and  accordingly  contract  was  made  for  such  of 
the  work  as  could  be  done. 

"  The  additional  stories,  one  in  the  male  and  another  in  the 
female  wings,  have  been  erected,  and  though  not  yet  completed,  we 
hope  to  have  them  available  in  the  coming  year,  and  thus  have 
space  for  about  two  hundred  more  patients  ;  but  as  the  number  to 
be  provided  for  is  still  in  excess  of  our  accommodations,  even  with 
the  new  wards,  it  is  imperative  that  provision  be  made  this  year  to 
properly  house  at  least  two  hundred  more,  and  to  this  end  we  shall 
ask  your  consent  to  apply  to  City  Councils  for  an  additional  appro- 
priation of  $60,000,  to  enable  us  to  complete  the  work. 

"  Humanity  and  sense  of  duty  would  demand  that  we  urge 
this  appropriation  in  any  event ;  but  we  are  impelled  as  well  by  the 
necessity  of  making  adequate  provision  for  the  insane  to  enable  us 
to  secure  the  benefit  of  recent  legislation. 

"At  the  last  session  of  the  Legislature  an  act  was  passed, 
which  was  approved  by  the  Governor,  providing  that  "  any  county, 
municipality,  borough  or  township  of  this  Commonwealth,  which 
has  now  or  may  hereafter  supply,  erect  and  equip  a  suitable  insti- 
tution for  the  maintenance,  care  and  treatment  of  its  indigent 
insane  upon  plans  and  specifications  approved  in  writing  by  the 
Board  of  Public  Charities,  shall  receive  from  the  State  Treasury 


360  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

the  sum  of  one  dollar  and  fifty  cents  per  week  for  every  indigent 

insane   person so    maintained  .....  provided  that  the 

Board  of  Public  Charities  shall  be  satisfied  that  the  quality  and 
equipment  of  such  institution,  and  the  manner  and  care  and  treat- 
ment therein  furnished,  is  proper  and  suitable  to  the  class  or  classes 
of  the  indigent  insane  so  maintained,  and  shall  so  certify  to  the 
Auditor-General  before  any  such  payment  shall  be  made. 

"  Under  the  provisions  of  this  Act,  which  went  into  effect  June 
I,  1897,  we  have  presented  bills  to  the  Auditor-General  for  the  two 
quarters  ending  August  31st  and  November  30th.  respectively, 
amounting  to  $50,371.07. 

"  To  comply  with  the  terms  of  the  Act,  it  will  be  absolutely 
necessary  for  us  to  increase  our  accommodations  for  the  insane, 
because  to  crowd  our  wards  still  further  will  violate  the  conditions 
requisite  to  secure  the  compensation  offered  by  the  State. 

"  We  have  no  choice  between  caring  for  the  insane  of  our  county 
in  our  own  institutions  and  sending  them  to  State  hospitals,  because 
the}^  are  filled  to  the  limit  of  their  capacity,  and  no  provision  has 
been  made  for  increase  of  their  size  or  for  addition  to  their  number. 

''  In  fact  the  Act  above  referred  to  was  passed  because  the  State 
recognized  the  inadequacy  of  its  provisions  for  the  indigent  insane, 
and  in  preference  to  increasing  the  number  or  the  size  of  its  hospi- 
tals, offered  inducements  to  the  counties  to  care  for  their  insane  in 
institutions  of  their  own.  The  State  Board  of  Charities,  having 
recommended  this  action,  is  urging  the  several  counties  to  accept 
the  State's  offer,  so  that  it  is  probable  the  new  policy  will  be  per- 
manent unless  experience  shall  demonstrate  its  inadvisability ;  but 
meanwhile  this  department  must  be  empowered  to  care  properly 
for  its  insane,  and  we  shall  confidently  appeal  to  you,  and  through 
you  to  Councils,  for  the  requisite  means  and  authority." 

The  final  transfer  of  Almshouse  ground  was  made  to  the 
Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museums  on  November  22d,  1897. 
This  took  in  the  marsh  land  between  the  line  of  the  railroad  and 
the  Schuylkill  river,  which  had  been  made  a  public  dump  and  had 
been  filled  in  with  ashes,  old  tin  cans  and  rubbish  of  all  kinds. 
It  is  instructive  as  well  as  amusing  to  read  the  preamble  and  pro- 


History  of  Phliadelpliia  Hospitals  and  Alinshuses.  361 

visos  attached  to  the  ordinance.  It  was  stated  that  the  collections 
under  the  care  of  the  said  Trustees  contained  many  seeds  and 
plants  particularly  adapted  to  the  development  of  a  botanic  and 
economic  garden ;  and  such  a  garden  would  be  a  great  ornament 
and  of  much  advantage  to  the  City  of  Philadelphia;  and  those 
portions  of  the  Almshouse  grounds  which  were  set  apart  for  park 
purposes  were  specially  adapted  for  the  pairposes  of  a  botanic  and 
economic  garden. 

The  c)rdinance  provided  that  the  property  should  be  forthwith 
opened  for  use  as  a  public  park  forever,  and  should  be  assigned  in 
trust,  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Philadelphia  Museums,  for 
the  purpose  of  developing  and  maintaining  a  botanic  and  economic 
garden  and  a  public  park.  It  provided  that  said  garden  and  park 
should  be  forever  open  to  free  access  of  the  public  at  all  times,  etc. 
It  also  provided  that  no  building  or  buildings  of  any  kind,  charac- 
ter or  description  should  be  erected  on  the  grounds  transferred  by 
the  several  ordinances  save  such  as  were  necessary  and  suitable  for 
the  development  and  maintenance  of  the  aforesaid  park  and  botanic 
and  economic  garden. 

How  much  of  these  agreements  have  been  complied  with  can 
Tdc  seen  by  a  visit  to  the  grounds. 

President  Lambert  made  a  final  appeal  for  relief  for  the  insane 
patients  in  his  annual  report  for  1898.  He  said  in  part :  "  The 
following  table  exhibits  the  population  of  the  insane  department 
•on  the  first  day  of  January  in  each  year  for  the  past  ten  years  and 
the  number  of  admissions  during  that  period  : 

^**^-  Population.  Admissions. 

January  ist,  1889 760 306 

1890 824  ....-...,  .  283 

"  1891 880 278 

"  1892 891 497 

^893 loio 466 


1894 1050 

1895 1 1 14 

1896 1149 

1897 1228 

^^98 1327 •   598 

1899 1378 


479 
521 
591 
592 


362  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  The  steady  and  alarming  increase  in  the  number  of  insane 
patients  demands  increased  provision  for  their  proper  care. 

"  The  taking  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  the  transfer  by 
ordinance  of  Councils,  tbrough  sale,  or  gift,  or  in  trust  to  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania  and  to  tbe  Commercial  Museums  have 
deprived  the  Department  of  the  greater  part  of  the  land  which  had 
been  dedicated  to  Almshouse  purposes.  The  only  ground  now 
under  our  control  is  that  portion  within  the  walls  occupied  by  the 
hospitals  and  out-wards,  and  the  small  exterior  part  occupied  by 
the  childrens'  house,  the  barn  and  stable  and  appertaining  build- 
ings. There  is,  therefore,  no  land  available  for  the  additional 
buildings  so  greatly  needed.  In  the  judgment  of  the  Directors, 
there  can  be  no  enlargement  of  present  buildings  beyond  the 
addition  of  stories  to  two  wings  of  the  insane  wards,  for  which 
appropriation  has  been  asked.  For  reasons  stated  in  my  last 
report,  there  is  no  probability  that  the  State  will  relieve  the  City 
of  the  care  of  any  considerable  number  of  insane  ;  the  hope  that 
legislation  could  be  secured,  transferring  to  the  Department  the 
care  and  control  of  the  three  independent  Almshouses  in  the 
county,  appears  to  have  been  ill-founded,  and  there  is  little  pros- 
pect that  relief  can  be  obtained  in  that  direction  ;  and  it  is,  there- 
fore, imperative  that  measures  be  taken  at  once  to  obtain  means 
for  the  purchase  of  ground  elsewhere  and  the  erection  thereon  of 
an  Insane  Hospital  of  modern  construction  and  equipment  large 
enough  to  accommodate  the  patients  now  in  our  charge,  and  to 
provide  for  the  inevitable  increase  in  their  number. 

"  With  such  provision   made   for  the  insane   and   the   relief 
which  would  thus  be  given  to  the  institution,  it  is  probable  that 
the  present  buildings,  with  such  alterations  as  could  then  be  made, 
would  suffice  for  the  City's  needs  for  years  to  come.     .     . 

''  An  insane  hospital  commensurate  with  the  requirements  of 
this  municipality  should  provide  at  once  for  a  much  larger  num- 
ber than  our  present  population,  and  be  capable  of  expansion  to 
meet  the  needs  of  the  future,  and  in  view  of  the  probability  that 
ultimately  the  other  portions  of  the  Almshouse  will  be  removed 
from  its  present  location,  sufficient  land'should  be  secured  also  to- 


-.^x:^ 


/  :<\ 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  363 

allow  erection  thereon  of  buildings  for  hospital  and  out-ward 
purposes." 

This  was  President  Lambert's  last  report,  as  he  severed  his 
connection  with  the  Department  shortly  after  it  was  written. 

On  January  8th,  1899,  Mr.  Joseph  H.  Mann  died  after  a  pro- 
tracted illness.  Mr.  Mann  had  given  active  attention  to  his  duties 
as  a  member  of  the  Board  during  tbe  time  tbat  his  health  per- 
mitted ;  the  work  was  congenial  by  reason  of  his  sympathetic 
nature. 

Dr.  Joseph  S.  Neff  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy,  Feb- 
ruary 2d. 

On  March  24tli  Mr.  Henry  B.  Gross  resigned,  owing  to 
pressure  of  business. 

On  April  3d  Major  William  H.  Lambert,  who  had  been  a 
member  since  April,  1892,  and  President  of  the  Board  since  Octo- 
ber, 1892,  tendered  his  resignation  and  the  City  lost  one  of  its  best 
officials.  Conscientious,  proficient,  impartial,  attentive  and  kind  in 
the  discharge  of  his  manifold  duties  he  was  eminently  fitted  for  the 
office,  and  his  loss  was  severely  felt  by  all  with  whom  he  had  been 
associated. 

Mr.  Wm.  D.  Gardner  was  appointed  President  pro  tempore. 

On  April  20th,  Mr.  Albert  H.  Dingee,  and  on  May  i8th,  Dr. 
C.  S.  Middleton,  were  appointed  members  of  the  Board. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

SUPERINTENDENT  LAWRENCE  RESIGNS— HIS  STATEMENT  TO  THE 

BOARD. 

SUPERINTENDENT  LAWRENCE   tendered  his   resigna- 
tion whicli   took    effect  on    May  i5tli,  1900.     At   the   last 
meeting  of  the  Bureau  of  Charities,  previous  to  that  date, 
he  made  the  following  statement,  and  as  it  gives  a  brief  his- 
tory of  what  was   accomplished   during   his    administration  it  is 
quoted : 

"  To  the  President  and  Directors  of  the  Department  of  Charities 
and  Correctio7i  : 

"  Gentlemen  : — I  respectfully  submit  the  following  statement  '- 
When  I  came  to  this  Institution,  in  May,  1891,  the  grounds  were 
surrounded  by  high  wooden  fences,  some  of  which  were  shored  up 
to  prevent  falling,  unsightly  in  appearance,  and  frequently  blown 
down.  The  interior  walls  and  ceilings  of  most  of  the  buildings  had 
been  white-washed  year  after  year  and  were  covered  with  scales. 
Floors  and  joists  were  rotten,  and  an  unpleasant  smell  pervaded. 
Old,  unsightly  rookeries,  which  had  long  outlived  their  usefulness, 
could  be  seen  on  all  sides.    These  conditions  have  all  been  changed. 

"  There  was  so  much  to  do  that  it  was  a  question  as  to  which 
should  be  done  first,  as  it  was  impossible  to  do  all  at  once. 

* "  The  erection  of  additional  buildings  for  the  insane  was 
commenced.  They  consisted  of  two  ward  buildings,  shaped  like  a 
T,  on  the  ground  plan,  measuring  50  feet  9  inches  by  80  feet  4 
inches  on  the  stem,  and  50  feet  9  inches  by  129  feet  on  the  head. 
The  associate  dining  room,  294  feet  long  and  104  feet  wide,  was 
built  between  these  buildings,  and  separates  the  male  and  female 
grounds.  In  that  year  we  commenced  the  erection  of  a  stone  wall 
around  the  grounds,  to  take  the  place  of  the  old  fences.  We  con- 
tinued that  from  year  to  year  until  it  was  completed,  it  being  about 
a  mile  in  length,  2  feet  thick,  with  foundations  4   feet  below  the 


*  See  illustrations. 

364 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  365 

surface  and  lo  feet  above  ground,  except  that- in  front  of  the  main 
building,  which  is  4  feet  above  ground,  with  a  capping  and  an  open 
iron  fence  3  feet  6  inches  high  on  top. 

''It  was  estimated  that  it  would  cost  $15,000  to  fill  in  and 
grade  the  grounds  between  the  insane  buildings.  It  was  decided 
to  build  the  wall,  on  the  west  side  of  the  grounds,  on  the  line  of 
Guardian  Avenue,  which  was  about  150  feet  beyond  the  line  of  the 
old  fence.  It  was  necessary  to  establish  a  grade  before  the  wall 
could  be  erected.  W.  H.  Jones,  Esq.,  the  Surveyor  of  this  District, 
kindly  had  the  stakes  driven  for  us.  The  grade  fixed  upon  neces- 
sitated the  removal  of  earth  to  the  depth  of  6  feet  9  inches  at  one 
point,  running  off  to  lower  ground  at  the  ends.  As  the  ground  to 
be  graded  was  about  1000  feet  long  and  150  feet  wide,  a  number  of 
horses  and  carts  were  employed  to  remove  the  dirt,  and  it  was  used 
for  filling  in  and  grading  the  grounds  of  the  Insane  Department. 
As  the  cost  for  carts  was  only  about  $3,000,  and  the  digging  and 
grading  was  done  by  men  from  the  House  of  Correction,  it  can  be 
seen  that  a  considerable  part  of  the  $15,000  was  saved,  and  we 
graded  two  grounds  instead  of  one.  The  stone  used  for  the  walls 
was  sent  from  the  House  of  Correction. 

"  I  found  the  nurses  in  the  hospital  were  sleeping  in  little  cub- 
bies erected  in  the  wards.  They  were  very  much  crowded  and  did 
not  have  the  necessary  accessories  to  make  them  comfortable.  I 
recommended  the  erection  of  a  building  for  their  use  for  several 
"reasons  :  First,  to  provide  better  accommodations  for  the  nurses  • 
second,  to  obtain  more  room  for  patients  in  the  hospital  by  vacating 
the  wards  occupied  by  the  nurses  ;  third,  to  enable  us  to  remove 
the  old  receiving  wards  to  the  rooms  used  as  offices  and  reception 
room  for  nurses  ;  fourth,  to  enlarge  the  drug  store  by  adding  to  it 
the  room  used  as  a  class  room  for  nurses,  and  also  to  tear  down  the 
old  rookeries  then  used  as  the  receiving  wards. 

''  A  brick  building  containing  seventy-five  rooms  was  erected 
for  the  nurses,  and  all  of  the  other  improvements  were  made. 

"  Back  of  the  woman's  outwards  a  lot  of  old  buildings,  built 
at  different  times  of  any  and  all  kinds  of  material— part  brick,  an 
addition  of  stone  and  then   another  of  wood,  of  all  heights    and 


366  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

shapes,  with  no  regard  to  appearance,  were  used  as  a  laundry. 
They  were  an  eye  sore  and  not  fit  for  the  purpose.  A  new  building, 
equipped  with  modern  appliances,  including  sterilizing,  and  having 
capacity  for  washing  35,000  pieces  weekly,  was  erected  on  the 
reclaimed  ground  and  the  old  buildings  were  demolished.  All  of 
the  grounds  back  of  that  part  of  the  institution  have  been  beauti- 
fied ;  grass  plots  and  terraces  have  taken  the  place  of  dirt  and  mud, 
and  cement  walks  have  been  laid  where  old  boards  had  been  used 

before. 

"  President  Lambert  remarked  :  '  One  can  hardly  realize  the 
great  improvement  made,  as  the  entire  character  of  the  place  is 
changed.' 

"  An  old  shanty  known  as  the  '  dirty  wash-house '  was  leaning 
against  the  wall  in  the  hospital  yard,  opposite  to  the  Maternity 
building.  A  tumble-down  sort  of  fence  running  from  wall  to  wall 
separated  it  from  the  men's  nervous  grounds ;  clothes  lines  were 
strung  across,  and  all  kinds  of  filthy  rags,  bandages  and  soiled  bed 
clothes  could  be  seen  fluttering  in  the  winds.  Those  conditions 
would  have  disgraced  the  slums  of  any  part  of  the  country.  That 
blot  was  wiped  out,  the  shanty  torn  down,  the  clothes  washed  in 
the  laundry  and  the  grounds  cleared. 

"  The  Clinic  Hall  v/as  an  old  stone  building  with  a  flat  roof, 
and  no  ventilation  or  light  excepting  what  was  furnished  by  two 
small  windows.  The  interior  was  about  like  an  old  barn.  During 
the  clinical  recess  of  one  year  we  repaired  and  plastered  the  exterior 
and  put  on  a  pitched  roof,  with  iron  girders,  and  large  skylight. 
In  the  next  summer  the  interior  was  torn  out  and  remodeled,  new 
ash  seats  with  walnut  caps  on  the  backs  were  put  in,  the  operating 
floor  was  laid  in  cement,  and  the  partitions  faced  with  glazed  tiles. 
The  steam  pipes  were  put  under  the  seats,  and  iron  steps  with  open 
rizers  allow  the  heat  to  enter  the  building  freely.  The  medical 
staff  was  so  much  pleased  with  the  improvements  made  that  it  was 
thought  proper  to  have  the  re-opening  made  an  event  in  the  history 
of  the  institution.  President  Lambert,  in  his  report,  said  :  '  Great 
satisfaction  has  been  expressed  concerning  this  improvement,  and 
it  has  been  declared  to  be  the  finest  hall  of  its  kind  in  this  country.' 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  367 

"  An  old  wooden  building  known  as  Clover  Hall,  which  was 
nothing  but  a  disreputable  loafing  place,  where  some  of  the  patients 
were  in  the  habit  of  playing  cards,  and  a  small  brick  structure, 
together  with  a  lot  of  rabbit  boxes,  coops,  etc.,  at  one  time  used  for 
experimental  purposes,  were  demolished,  and  on  the  place  occupied 
we  built  a  brick  annex  to  the  Clinic  Hall,  containing  two  rooms 
for  sterilizing  and  dressings. 

"  Down  by  the  stables  a  dilapidated,  leaky  white-washed  shed 
had  stood  for  years,  and  under  it  the  wagons  and  ambulances  were 
stored.  A  narrow  stable  and  carriage  house  combined,  in  which  a 
few  of  the  driving  horses  were  kept,  stood  opposite;  the  other 
borses  were  in  an  old  cow  stable,  a  few  small  boles  having  been 
knocked  through  the  walls  for  ventilation.  The  old  shed  was  torn 
down,  and  from  designs  which  I  made  a  neat  brick  structure  was 
erected,  in  which  there  is  room  for  all  the  carriages,  wagons  and 
ambulances  belonging  to  the  institution.  It  has  tv/o  stories  in  the 
center,  and  two  rooms,  i8  by  i8  feet,  furnisb  sleeping  accommoda- 
tions for  the  drivers  and  stable  help. 

"  I  recommended  the  erection  of  an  isolating  building  for  the 
treatment  of  any  contagious  or  infectious  disease  that  might 
develop  in  the  institution.  It  was  built.  President  Lambert,  in 
referring  to  it,  said  :  '  The  Isolating  Building  is  of  novel  construc- 
tion, was  designed  by  the  Superintendent,  and  erected  from  plans 
made  by  him.  It  is  built  of  brick,  one  story  high.  It  contains 
fourteen  rooms  for  patients,  two  rooms  for  nurses,  bath  rooms  and 
lavatories,  and  ample  provision  is  made  for  heat  and  ventilation. 
The  walls,  floors  and  ceilings  are  covered  with  cement : ' 

"  In  the  following  year  he  said :  '  The  value  of  the  isolation 
wards  has  been  proved  by  tbe  large  number  of  cases  treated  there 
with  success  and  without  detriment  to  the  other  patients  of  the 
institution.' ''' 

"  I  found  that  broken  coal  was  being  used  for  making  steam. 
I  recommended  the  changing  of  the  grates  under  the  boilers  to 
allow  us  to  use  small  coal,  at  a  greatly  reduced  cost.  Thousands 
of  dollars  have  been  saved  by  that  change. 

*See  illustration. 


368  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  The  Maternity  buildings  were  supplied  with  heat  and  hot 
water  from  a  boiler  in  a  small  building  adjoining  it.  This  was  a 
very  expensive  plan,  for  aside  from  the  cost  of  coal,  two  men  were 
required,  one  during  the  day  and  the  other  at  night,  to  attend  the 
fire.  I  suggested  that  pipes  be  laid  to  the  hospital  cellar  and  con- 
nections  made  to  the  main  steam  pipes  ;  we  laid  the  pipes,  and  now 
they  are  supplied  from  the  main  boilers  and  considerable  expense 
saved. 

'*  On  the  night  of  August  14,  1895,  a  fire  of  unknown  origin 
occurred  in  the  laundry  of  the  Insane  Department,  and  spread  to 
the  storehouse  adjoining,  destroying  the  two  buildings  and  con- 
tents. The  fire  was  confined  to  those  buildings,  and  although  it 
was  in  proximity  to  the  Insane  Department,  there  was  no  panic, 
the  patients  being  promptly  removed  to  the  wards  in  the  rear,  and 
no  one  was  injured.  President  Lambert,  in  his  report,  said  :  '  Great 
credit  is  due  Superintendent  Lawrence  for  excellent  management 
under  exciting  circumstances,  and  for  his  prompt  disposition  to 
meet  the  emergency.'  Supplies  had  to  be  procured  immediately 
and  temporary  store  rooms  fitted  up.  The  food  was  procured  and 
the  meals  furnished  as  usual. 

"  We  collected  the  insurance  money  and  rebuilt  the  buildings  ; 
we  improved  the  storehouse  very  much  b}^  putting  a  hip  roof  with 
girders  and  trusses  in  place  of  the  low  flat  one  that  was  on  it 
previous  to  the  fire.  Two  large  skylights  were  erected,  and  now 
v/e  have  a  well-lighted  store,  with  a  cement  floor,  125  by  40  feet, 
entirely  free  of  posts,  with  excellent  ventilation  and  the  modern 
appliances.  The  laundry  was  built  of  brick,  two  stories  high,  with 
rooms  for  washing,  drying  and  ironing  on  the  lower  floor  and  three 
work  rooms,  about  50  by  20  feet,  on  the  upper. 

"  We  planted  a  70  foot  mast,  with  40  foot  topmast,  on  the 
ground  in  front  of  the  main  building.  It  is  fitted  with  cross  trees 
and  shrouds,  and  is  one  of  the  handsomest  flagstafl"s  to  be  found 
anywhere.  The  American  flag,  100  feet  above  the  ground,  can  be 
seen  flying  from  the  stpff  whenever  the  weather  permits. 

"  The  ground  upon  which  the  barn  stood  was  transferred  to 
the  Universit}^  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Councils  made  an  appropria- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  369 

tion  of  $6,000  for  the  erection  of  a  new  building  to  take  the  place 
of  the  old  one,  and  we  built  a  stable  100  by  40  feet,  of  brick,  two 
stories  in  height.  The  lower  floor  is  for  the  horses  and  has  twenty- 
two  stalls,  two  of  which  are  large  box  stalls  ;  the  floor  is  cemented 
and  covered  with  plank,  in  the  stalls,  for  the  horses  to  stand  on.  It 
is  supplied  with  water,  gas  and  underground  drainage  ;  harness  and 
feed  rooms  are  at  one  end  and  two  stairways  lead  to  the  upper  floor, 
A  large  room  for  hay  and  straw  is  secured  in  the  second  story,  and 
as  all  of  the  straw  beds  required  for  the  institution  are  filled  there, 
it  requires  considerable  space  for  that  purpose.  We  laid  a  cement 
drive  around  the  building,  graded  and  sodded  the  grounds,  and 
enclosed  the  whole  with  a  neat  picket  fence.  We  could  not  have 
had  as  good  a  building  erected  by  contract  for  $10,000.  President 
Lambert's  report  said :  '  The  building  erected  on  plans  prepared 
by  the  Superintendent  is  commodious  and  well  adapted  for  the 
purposes  of  the  institution.' 

"  I  recommended  the  introduction  of  a  plant  to  manufacture 
the  ice  needed ;  an  old  two-story  stone  building  that  had  at  one 
time  been  used  to  put  old  vermin -covered  clothing  into  pickle,  was 
remodeled,  thoroughly  repaired,  new  roof  with  skylight  put  on, 
cleaned  and  painted,  and  the  machinery  put  in.  We  have  not 
bought  any  ice  since,  the  cost  of  the  plant  was  saved  in  the  first 
year,  and  we  save  thousands  of  dollars  annually.  Undertakers 
had  been  obliged  to  pay  $1.00  for  ice  for  each  body  removed  from 
the  Mortuary  Building  for  burial.  That  imposition  was  stopped 
and  no  charge  was  allowed  to  be  made.  The  money  collected  in 
that  way  was  not  paid  into  the  Cit}^  Treasury. 

"  I  recommended  the  extension  of  the  electric  lighting  system. 
We  purchased  the  extra  dynamos  and  engine,  enlarged  the  dynamo 
house,  laid  the  wires  underground  and  made  all  connections  with 
our  own  labor.  All  of  the  wards  of  the  institution  are  lighted  by 
electricity  during  the  early  evening,  and  the  halls,  stairways  and 
lavatories  have  the  light  all  night.  This  is  a  decided  improvement, 
with  less  danger  from  fire,  and  if  we  had  to  use  and  pay  for  the  gas 
that  is  dispensed  with,  it  would  cost  thousands  of  dollars  annually. 

"  Through  the  courtesy  of  Hon.  A.  M.  Beitler,  Director  of 
24 


370  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

Public  Safety,  we  procured  a  condemned  steam  fire  engine.  We 
put  it  in  thorough  repair  and  built  a  house  to  put  it  in.  I  recom- 
mended the  purchase  of  a  chemical  engine.  It  was  procured  ;  and 
now,  with  these  and  the  hose  carts,  hose  on  brackets  attached  to 
water  pipes  throughout  the  institution,  fire  extinguishers,  etc.,  we 
are  prepared  for  emergencies. 

"  Our  water  supply  was  furnished  by  a  four-inch  pipe,  which 
had  been  in  use  for  years  and  was  not  sufi&cient.  I  recommended 
and  we  laid  a  six-inch  main,  and  connected  the  old  one  and  the  fire 
lines  to  it.  We  also  succeeded  in  getting  the  Water  Department 
to  lay  an  eight-inch  main  around  the  outside  of  the  buildings,  and 
it  is  attached  to  those  on  the  inside,  so  a  largely  increased  supply 
is  secured. 

"As  we  did  not  have  the  proper  facilities  for  making  the  large 
amount  of  bread  required,  we  enlarged  the  bake  house  by  adding 
an  annex  i6  by  32  feet.  Another  oven  was  built  and  a  steam 
dough  mixer  erected.  This  machine  will  mix  five  barrels  of  flour 
at  one  time,  and  in  about  twelve  minutes  will  produce  better  dough 
than  men  could  make  by  hand.  As  we  bake  twenty-two  barrels  of 
flour  per  day  during  portions  of  the  year,  this  is  of  great  assistance. 

"  The  meat  house  was  remodeled  and  improved.  The  old  floor 
and  joists  were  taken  out,  new  joists  put  in  and  a  plank  floor  put 
down.  A  concrete  surface  was  laid  on  the  planks.  An  additional 
brick  building  was  erected  alongside  of  it,  and  in  one  end  a  refriger- 
ator was  built,  lined  with  hard  wood.  This  makes  excellent  cold 
storage  for  meat,  milk  and  butter.  The  other  end  of  the  building 
is  used  as  a  fire  engine  house,  in  which  our  steam  and  chemical 
engines  and  hose  cart  are  kept. 

"  We  erected  an  additional  story  on  the  out- wards  kitchen 
building,  and  made  two  large  dining-rooms  on  the  second  floor  for 
the  use  of  the  pettj^-  officers.  In  addition  to  furnishing  them  with 
better  accommodations,  it  enabled  us  to  largely  increase  the  men's 
out-wards  dining  room  by  adding  the  portion  formerly  occupied  by 
the  petty  ofiicers  to  it. 

"  We  procured  a  switch  table  from  the  Electrical  Bureau, 
through  the  courtesy  of  Director  Riter,  and  put  telephones  through- 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  371 

out  the  institution.  The  saving  of  time  in  sending  messages  in  a 
place  of  this  size  and  character  is  frequently  of  great  importance. 

"  Of  the  many  needs  of  an  institution  like  this,  none  are 
greater  than  proper  facilities  for  bathing.  Cleanliness  is  abso- 
lutely necessary.  We  erected  a  bath  house  50  feet  by  20  feet  in  a 
corner  of  one  of  the  male  insane  exercising  yards,  and  put  in 
eighteen  booths  with  the  rain  or  spray  baths.  Dressing  closets  are 
opposite  the  booths,  and  while  some  of  the  patients  are  being 
bathed,  others  can  be  prepared. 

"  The  Chief  Resident  Physician,  in  his  report,  says  :  'Another 
valuable  addition  to  the  department  during  the  year  was  the  men's 
bath  house,  fitted  with  the  "  rain  bath,"  and  capable  of  satisfacto- 
rily and  thoroughly  bathing  eighteen  patients  at  one  and  the  same 
time.  Two  small  bath  rooms  have  also  been  completed  in  the 
women's  wards,  capable  of  bathing  six  women  at  one  and  the  same 
time.  It  is  impossible  to  speak  of  the  value  of  this  useful  addition 
to  the  department,  save  in  the  most  enthusiastic  terms.  The 
wonder  is,  how  could  the  department  have  bathed  its  large  and 
growing  population  without  this  form  of  bath  ?  ' 

''  We  have  since  fitted  up  bath  rooms  of  the  same  character  in 
all  parts  of  the  institution,  so  that  every  inmate  can  have  the 
benefit  of  .this  great  improvement  over  the  old  iron  bath  tubs. 

"  For  the  protection  of  the  patients  we  erected  open  pavilions, 
80  feet  by  30  feet,  with  six  rows  of  seats  running  lengthwise.  One 
was  built  in  the  male  insane  yard,  two  in  the  women's  insane  yards 
and  one  in  the  hospital  yard.  It  is  a  great  comfort  to  the  poor 
souls  to  sit  under  the  shade  of  these  roofs  during  the  hot  summer 
days. 

"  The  walls  along  Vintage  Avenue  in  front  of  main  buildings 
were  built  four  feet  higli,  with  open  iron  fence  on  top.  As  the 
spaces  enclosed  by  these  walls  were  each  about  250  feet  long  and 
60  feet  wide,  we  embraced  the  opportunity  of  making  a  great 
improvement  in  the  appearance  of  the  entire  front  by  placing  a 
number  of  flower-beds  there,  instead  of  the  dirt  piles,  chicken 
coops  and  dog  kennels  that  had  formerly  occupied  the  grounds.  A 
variety   of    beautiful   plants    were    set   out,  making   a  handsome 


372  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


display.  A  garden  was  also  arranged  in  the  men's  out-wards 
courtyard,  in  the  place  where  the  coal  had  been  piled.  With  a 
fountain  in  the  center,  surrounded  by  beautiful  flower-beds,  it  is 
very  attractive.  We  erected  a  hot-house  to  enable  us  to  propagate 
our  plants:  this  albwed  us  to  set  out  beds  around  the  grounds, 
and  we  now  have  them  wherever  it  adds  to  the  cheerfulness  of  the 
place  and  beautifies  the  surroundings.  * 

"In  improving  the  grounds  we  took  up  old  worn  out  brick 
sidewalks  and  laid  cement  in  their  stead.  All  of  the  streets  inside 
of  the  walls  were  covered  with  asphaltum,  new  inlets  and  drain 
pipes  laid  and  curved  curbing  placed  on  all  of  the  corners  of  the 
streets.  Thousands  of  yards  of  cement  floors  and  sidewalks  were 
laid  by  our  inmate  labor  and  the  expense  was  simply  for  the  mate- 
rial used. 

"  Extensive  repairs  and  improvements  were  made  in  all  of  the 
wards  of  the  institution.  In  the  Hospital  Department  the  drug- 
store was  enlarged,  remodeled  and  put  in  first-class  condition. 
New  operating  rooms  were  constructed  and  furnished  with  the 
latest  style  of  instruments,  sterilizing  apparatus,  operating  tables, 
stretchers,  etc.  Walls  between  rooms  were  torn  out  and  arches 
built,  improving  the  light  and  ventilation.  Old  floors,  joists  and 
stairways  were  torn  out  and  replaced  by  new.  Walls  and  ceilings 
stripped,  replastered  and  painted.  Offices  and  library  fitted  up  for 
doctors  and  nurses  ;  in  fact,  from  end  to  end  and  from  top  to  bottom 
it  has  been  improved  and  made  new. 

"  In  the  outwards  on  both  sides,  the  same  kind  of  work  was 
done.  The  remnants  of  the  '  cubbies  '  or  cell-like  compartments 
into  which  the  outwards  had  originally  been  divided  were  removed  ; 
all  of  the  old  plaster  on  walls  and  ceilings  taken  off  and  replastered 
with  adamantine  cement  and  painted ;  walls  torn  out  and  arches 
built,  making  one  large  ward  of  several  small  ones ;  wooden 
surbases  removed  and  cement  substituted ;  decayed  floors,  joists 
and  other  wood  work  condemned  and  replaced  with  new  and  every- 
thing connected  with  the  buildings  put  in  thorough  repair.  Bvery 
thing  new  except  the  outside  walls. 

*See  Illustration. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  373 

"  The  old  wards  of  the  Insane  Department  were  also  entirely 
remodeled.  We  made  one  ward  of  five  small  ones  in  Ward  2, 
male  side,  and  the  improvement  was  so  marked  tliat  Hon.  M.  H, 
Dickinson,  President  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities,  remarked, 
when  visiting  it,  '  I  do  not  believe  there  is  an  institution  in  the 
world  that  has  a  ward  equal  to  this.'  The  old  outgrown  kitchen 
was  turned  into  a  well-equipped  workshop. 

"  In  the  buildings  in  which  are  located  Wards  6,  7  and  8,  on 
both  the  male  and  female  sides,  there  were  brick  walls  extending 
from  the  cellars  to  the  roofs,  making  bath  rooms  and  water  closets 
on  each  floor  and  occupying  a  space  of  37  feet  6  inches  by  11  feet 
6  inches  in  the  center  of  each  room,  leaving  but  a  narrow  passage- 
way on  either  side.  We  tore  the  walls  down,  put  in  joists,  floors 
and  ceilings  on  each  floor  and  built  suitable  structures  on  the 
outside  of  the  buildings,  with  connections  from  each  of  the  three 
floors.  There  we  erected  all  of  the  necessary  bath  rooms,  lava- 
tories, etc.,  and  have  all  the  conveniences  without  any  odors  in  the 
wards.  In  addition  to  the  improved  sanitary  arrangements  we  gain 
space  enough  to  accommodate  about  thirty  more  patients  in  each  of 
the  six  wards.  All  of  the  wards  and  ceilings,  as  well  as  the  corri- 
dors and  stairways  were  plastered  and  painted.  Cadwalader  Biddle, 
Esq.,  Secretary  and  Agent  of  the  State  Board  of  Charities,  upon 
the  occasion  of  a  visit  remarked  '  Nothing  short  of  an  inspiration 
suggested  such  a  great  improvement.' 

''  As  a  means  of  relieving  the  crowded  condition  of  the  Insane 
Department  I  suggest  that,  in  my  opinion,  the  best  and  quickest 
would  be  to  repeal  the  acts  which  exempted  the  other  poor  districts 
in  the  county  from  the  operation  of  the  law  placing  the  almshouses 
and  hospitals  under  the  control  and  management  of  this  depart- 
ment. If  we  had  possession  of  the  Oxford  and  Lower  Dublin  Alms- 
houses buildings  sufficient  for  present  purposes  at  least  could  soon 
be  erected  and  our  surplus  sent  there. 

"  As  the  Act  to  accomplish  this  failed  to  be  passed  I  recom- 
mended the  addition  of  another  story  on  each  of  the  two-story 
buildings  in  which  are  located  Wards  i  and  2,  and  Wards  9  and  10 
on  both  the  male  and  female  sides  of  the  Insane  department.      By 


374  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

your  request  Councils  appropriated  the  balance  of  $40,663.83 
remaining  in  the  Sinking  Fund  to  the  credit  of  this  department  for 
the  purpose  of  commencing  the  work.  Plans  were  prepared  and 
approved  by  the  Board  of  Public  Charities,  but  the  amount  availa- 
ble was  onl}'  suf&cient  to  enlarge  two  of  the  buildings.  Councils 
were  applied  to  several  times  to  appropriate  the  money  to  complete 
the  work,  but  the  request  was  not  complied  with.  The  work  that 
was  done  increased  the  accommodations  sufficient  for  about  175 
patients. 

"  We  built  stone  and  brick  tunnels  from  the  main  boiler  house 
to  the  insane  wards  and  from  the  manufacturing  department  to  the 
Hospital  buildings,  completing  underground  connection  with  all 
the  main  buildings  ;  in  these  tunnels  can  be  placed  all  of  the  steam 
pipes  and  electric  light  and  telephone  wires,  which  are  thus  accessi- 
ble for  repair  without  excavation. 

"  We  utilized  the  labor  of  men  sent  down  from  the  House  of 
Correction,  in  a  great  measure ;  the  digging  of  trenches  required 
for  walls  and  tunnels,  as  well  as  the  grading  and  filling  in  around 
new  buildings  was  done  by  these  men.  The  tearing  down  and 
removal  of  old  buildings,  hacking  and  scraping  of  walls  and  ceil- 
ings, preparing  them  for  plastering ;  removing  the  dirt  caused  5 
tearing  up  the  old  floors  and  in  other  ways  using  the  labor,  saved 
the  employment  of  other  men  and  inasmuch  as  the  City  would  have 
to  maintain  them,  it  seemed  wise  to  get  the  benefit  of  their  services 
in  this  manner. 

"  President  Lambert,  in  one  of  his  reports,  said,  '  So  great  have 
been  the  improvements  made  in  the  grounds  and  buildings,  so  well 
have  they  been  kept  in  repair,  that  although  the  main  buildings 
have  been  in  constant  use  for  more  than  sixty  years  without  costly 
exterior  structural  changes,  they  compare  favorably  with  buildings 
in  similar  institutions  elsewhere  of  recent  erection  and  elaborate 
and  expensive  equipment  ....  We  believe  that  their  condi- 
tion and  management  will  compare  favorably  with  any  of  like 
character  in  the  United  States.' 

"  When  persons  are  received  in  the  Institution  all  money  and 
valuables   are  taken  from  them  and  sent  to  the  superintendent's 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  375 

office  for  safe  keeping.  There  was  only  $2,400  accounted  for,  in  a 
loose  sort  of  way,  when  I  took  charge,  although  the  Institution 
had  been  in  existence  one  hundred  and  fifty-nine  years.  I  had 
proper  books  prepared,  and  accounts  (now  numbering  9,590)  opened 
with  every  patient.  Receipts  are  given  for  everything  received. 
Each  person  is  predited  for  whatever  is  brought  in ;  receipts  are 
printed  at  the  bottom  of  each  account.  When  the  patients  go  out 
their  effects  are  returned  to  them  and  they  sign  the  receipts. 

"  If  any  of  them  should  die  and  have  enough  to  defray  funeral 
expenses,  ihey  are  decently  buried,  the  undertaker  is  paid  and  his 
receipt  taken.  Whatever  is  left  is  transferred  to  the  '  deceased 
inmates'  account,'  and  each  year  a  list  of  the  names  of  those  who 
have  been  dead  a  year  or  longer  is  made,  stating  the  name,  date  of 
death  and  the  amounts  standing  to  their  credit. 

"  These  sums  are  paid  to  the  Treasurer  and  his  receipt  taken 
therefor.  As  the  credits  vary  from  one  cent  upwards,  it  requires  a 
considerable  number  of  accounts  to  amount  to  much  money. 
Nevertheless,  I  have  paid  $4,092.03  from  that  account  to  the  Trea- 
surer and  have  $4,903.62  deposited  in  bank  belonging  to  the 
patients  now  here. 

"  To  add  what  I  paid  to  the  City  to  the  amount  I  have  in  bank 
would  make  $8,995.65,  an  increase  of  $6,595.65  over  what  was 
accounted  for  nine  years  ago.  Not  one  cent  had  ever  been  paid  to 
the  City  from  that  account  until  I  paid  it. 

■'  Prior  to  1883  the  several  counties  of  this  Commonwealth 
were  compelled  to  pay  the  entire  cost  of  maintaining  their  indigent 
insane,  whether  they  were  in  a  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  or  in 
the  county  institutions,  as  the  Commonwealth  did  not  contribute 
anything  for  that  purpose. 

"  The  Act  of  June,  1883,  provided  that  ^  The  expense  of  the 
care  and  treatment  of  the  indigent  insane  in  the  State  Hospital  for 
the  Insane  shall  be  divided  between  the  State  and  County :  Pro- 
vided, That  the  maximum  charge  to  the  county  shall  not  exceed, 
including  all  charges,  the  sum  of  two  dollars  per  week  for  each 
person.' 

"  The  Act  of  May  21,  1889,  fixed  a  rate  of  $1.75  per  week  for 


376  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

the  county  to  pay,  the  excess  over  that  amount  to  be  paid  by  the 
State. 

"  No  provision  was  made  for  the  Common  wealth  to  pay 
anything  towards  defraying  tbe  expense  of  the  care  and  treatment 
of  the  insane  in  the  County  institutions. 

"  I  called  the  attention  of  the  Bureau  of  Charities  to  the  fact 
that  near!}'  all  of  the  counties  had  all  of  their  insane  in  State  hospi- 
tals, and  it  was  only  costing  them  $1.75  per  week  for  their  main- 
tenance, the  balance  being  paid  by  the  State,  while  we  had  more 
than  1,000  in  our  institution  that  the  State  hospital  would  not 
receive ;  we  received  nothing  from  the  Commonwealth  for  them, 
the  entire  expense  being  borne  by  the  city.  I  suggested  three 
remedies  to  correct  the  injustice. 

"Alfred  Moore,  Esq.,  and  Dr.  J.  W.  Walk  were  appointed  a 
committee  to  consider  this  important  subject.  A  bill  was  prepared 
which  provided  '  That  when  the  proper  authorities  of  any  county  in 
this  Commonwealth  provide  within  the  county  accommodations  for 
the  support  of  indigent  insane  persons,  which  said  accommodations 
are  approved  by  the  Committee  on  Lunacy  of  the  Board  of  Com- 
missioners of  Public  Charities,  the  said  county  shall  be  entitled  to 
have  maintained  in  the  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane,  for  the  proper 
district,  free  of  cost  to  the  county,  as  many  indigent  insane  persons 
as  are  furnished  accommodations  within  the  said  county.' 

"  The  action  of  the  Bureau  of  Charities  was  referred  to  Hon. 
Edwin  S.  Stuart,  Mayor  of  the  City.  He  approved  it  and  sent  the 
reports  to  Councils  with  a  special  message.  (See  Common  Coun- 
cil Appendix,  Vol.  2,  October  1892,  to  March  1893,  pages  826  to 
833.)  Both  branches  of  Councils  recommended  the  passage  of  the 
bill,  and  it  was  passed  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representa 
tives,  but  was  vetoed  by  Governor  Pattison. 

"  That  bill  would  have  saved  the  city  nearly,  if  not  quite, 
$100,000  per  annum,  as  $91.00  was  paid  yearly  to  the  State 
Hospital  for  each  person  from  this  city  being  maintained 
there. 

"The  Legislature  of  1895  took  the  subject  up  again,  and  an 
Act  was  passed  and  approved  by  Governor  Hastings  on  June  2 2d 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  377 

of  that  year,  which  provided  '  That  the  same  allowance  shall  be 
made  to  the  counties  as  was  given  to  the  State  Hospitals.' 

"  In  other  words,  the  State  would  pay  the  counties  the  amount 
■of  cost  in  excess  of  $1.75  per  week  for  each  indigent  insane  person 
cared  for  at  the  county  institution.  Under  that  act  we  collected 
and  paid  to  the  City  Treasurer  the  sum  of  $67,996.39  for  the  care 
and  treatment  of  the  insane  in  this  institution.  That  was  the  first 
money  ever  collected  from  the  State  for  that  purpose. 

"  The  Legislature  of  1897  considered  the  matter,  as  the  State 
Hospitals  were  overcrowded,  and  the  spending  of  millions  of  dollars 
to  erect  and  support  additional  structures  did  not  meet  with  favor- 
An  Act  was  passed  and  approved  by  Governor  Hastings  May  25, 
1897,  and  provides  '  That  any  County,  Municipality,  Borough  or 
Township  in  this  Commonwealth  which  now  has,  or  may  hereafter 
supply,  erect  and  equip  a  suitable  institution  for  the  maintenance, 
•care  and  treatment  of  its  indigent  insane,  upon  plans  and  specifica- 
tions approved  in  writing  by  the  Board  of  Public  Charities,  shall 
receive  from  the  State  Treasury  the  sum  of  $1.50  per  week  for 
■every  indigent  insane  person  of  such  County,  municipality,  borough 
or  township  so  maintained,  who  has  been  legally  adjudged  to  be 
insane  and  committed  to  such  institution,  or  who  may  be  trans- 
ferred from  a  State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  to  such  local  institution. 
Provided,  '  That  the  Board  of  Public  Charities  shall  be  satisfied 
that  the  quality  and  equipment  of  such  institution,  and  the  manner 
•of  care  and  treatment  therein  furnished  is  proper  and  suitable  to 
the  class  or  classes  of  the  indigent  insane  so  maintained,  and  shall 
so  certify  to  the  Auditor-General  before  any  such  payment  shall  be 
paid.' 

"  Our  institution  had  been  so  improved  and  the  character  of 
the  attendants  and  other  help  (upon  whom  the  physicians  must  in 
a  manner  depend)  had  been  so  much  elevated  that  we  took  rank 
with  any  hospital  in  the  State,  and  were  able  to  comply  with  all 
the  provisions  of  the  Act. 

"  The  Corhmittee  on  Lunacy  made  a  special  report  regarding 
this  hospital  to  the  State  Board  of  Charities,  and  I  quote  some  of 
the  statements  : 


378  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  '  On  November  4,  1895,  there  were  present  in  the  Depart- 
ment for  the  Insane  1,132  patients,  or  570  men  and  562  women. 
These  being  wholly  drawn  from  the  poorer  classes  of  a  large  city 
are  more  "difficult  to  manage  than  the  average  State  Hospital  popu- 
lation and  present  physically  and  mentally,  very  poor  material  for 
cure  or  relief.  Notwithstanding  this  fact  the  percentage  of  recov- 
eries on  the  whole  number  treated  for  the  year  just  closed  was  8}( 
per  cent.;  on  the  number  admitted  during  the  year  28  per  cent. 

"  '  In  the  State  Hospitals  of  Pennsylvania  in  1894,  the  per- 
centage of  recoveries  on  the  whole  number  treated  was  4  per  cent.;, 
on  the  number  admitted  during  the  year  2,1)4  per  cent.  These 
results  require  no  comment. 

'^ '  During  the  year  past  only  eight  patients  had  worn  any 
form  of  mechanical  restraint,  and  but  one  patient  had  been  in 
seclusion.  In  the  wards  for  refractory  patients  the  single  rooms 
have  no  doors,  but  open  freely  into  the  wide  corridors.  Restraint  and 
seclusion  of  insane  have  been  minimized  here  to  a  degree  scarcely 
found  elsewhere.  Classification  is  made  a  leading  feature,  as  it 
should  be  in  all  such  institutions.  There  are  separate  wards  for 
the  acute  cases  ;  for  the  epileptics  ;  for  those  ill  in  bed  and  feeble ; 
for  disturbed  and  for  untidy  cases.  The  system  of  night  watching 
and  of  special  night  nursing,  is  complete  and  admirably  regulated. 

"  '  There  is  an  exact  day  and  night  report  submitted  to  the 
Chief  Resident  Physician,  from  each  Ward,  of  the  condition  of 
each  patient,  and  of  every  occurrence  which  takes  place  during  the 
twenty-four  hours.  The  records  of  the  Hospital  are  full,  accurate 
and  reliable,  as  are  also  the  returns  made  to  the  Committee  on 
Lunacy. 

"  '  The  proportion  of  attendants  to  the  average  number  of 
patients  is  about  i  to  12,  and  the  number  of  attendants  is  soon  to  be 
increased.  Some  of  these  are  trained  nurses,  others  are  graduates 
of  training  schools  for  attendants  to  the  insane,  but  all  attendants 
receive  special  instruction  in  their  duties  by  courses  of  lectures 
delivered  by  the  Medical  Staff.  During  the  past  year  there  occurred 
neither  a  serious  accident  nor  a  suicide,  although  there  were- 
present  on   the  last  day  of  the  year  41  homicidal  and   23  suicidal 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  379 

patients.  .  .  .  All  the  water  closets  and  bath  rooms  are  placed 
in  towers  or  projections  built  outside  the  wards.  These  are  well 
ventilated,  perfectly  clean  and  free  from  odor,  and  are  supplied, 
with  excellent  fittings  and  an  automatic  flush  of  water. 

"  '  All  the  patients  sleep  on  wire-woven  mattresses  on  neat  iron 
bedsteads,  supplied  with  ^ood  warm  bedding.  The. beds  are  clean 
and  free  from  vermin.  The  quieter  patients  sleep  in  large  dormi- 
tories, which  are  entirely  vacated  during  the  day,  the  patients,  when 
not  in  the  open  air,  occupying  large  day  rooms.  The  ceilings  in 
most  of  the  wards,  corridors  and  dormitories  are  from  13  to  16 
feet  in  height. 

"  '  The  newer  wards  have  always  been  excellent,  but  during 
the  last  few  years  all  of  the  older  wards  have  been  torn  out  to  the 
very  walls  and  refitted  in  modern  form,  so  that  now  these  compare 
very  favorably  with  the  newer  portions  of  the  buildings. 

"  '  The  patients  take  their  meals  in  one  of  the  finest  and  best 
equipped  refectories  in  this  country,  connected  with  serving  rooms 
and  a  main  kitchen  of  great  size  and  fitted  with  the  most  approved 
appliances  for  institution  cooking.  This  group  of  buildings  is  of 
recent  construction  and  is  supplied  above  with  sleeping  quarters  for 
attendants  and  employees.  Of  the  1,132  patients  about  900  regu- 
larly use  this  dining  hall.  On  the  day  of  our  last  visit  there 
897  were  at  dinner.  Each  sex  occupies  half  of  the  hall,  which 
is  divided  in  its  length  by  a  fixed  screen  about  seven  feet  in  height. 
The  dinner  was  well  cooked,  well  served  and  evidently  much 
enjoyed,  and  the  quiet  and  good  order  was  rather  better  than  is 
seen  in  the  average  hospital  dining  room.  The  buildings  are  now 
lighted  with  gas,  but  arrangements  have  been  made  to  abolish  gas 
and  light  entirely  by  electricity.  The  ventilation  of  the  wards  is 
very  good  and  the  general  cleanliness  admirable ;  there  are  no  bad 
smells,  no  dirty  corners,  nor  closets  ;  no  collection  of  rubbish.  All 
spare  clothing  is  neatly  put  by  in  clothes  rooms. 

" '  The  patients   are  bathed  regularly,   under  supervision   of 
physician,  are  kept   clean,  and  their  clothing  is   warm,   tidy   and 

comfortable The  supplies  of  special  diet,  drugs,  medicines 

and  appliances  are  unrestricted  and  are  subject  to  the  requisition 


380  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

of  the  Chief  Resident  Physician.  Politics  are  absolutely  disre- 
garded in  the  selection  of  physicians  and  in  the  employment  of 
attendants  and  employees.  Character  and  fitness  for  duty  are  the 
sole  requirements  to  obtain  and  retain  an  appointment  or  position. 
Much  to  the  contrary  has  been  unfairly  alleged.     If  it  might  have 

been  true  at  some  former  time,  it  is  no  longer  so This 

report,  which  is  based  upon  repeated  personal  inspections  by  the 
Committee  on  Lunacy,  was  called  forth  by  the  injudicious,  unjust 
and  untrue  publication  which  recently  appeared  in  a  justly  popular 
periodical.  There  are  many  citizens  and  many  of  the  medical 
profession  who  appear  to  content  themselves  with  the  remembrance 
of  what  "  Blockley  "  used  to  be,  rather  than  take  the  trouble  to 
visit  it  now  and  to  see  what  it  has  become  under  the  leadership  of 
the  present  Bureau  of  Charities,  and  under  the  admirable  control 
of  the  present  Superintendent,  Mr.  Charles  Lawrence,  and  Dr. 
Daniel  B.  Hughes,  the  present  excellent  Chief  Resident  Physician, 
and  of  the  Medical  Staff  at  large.  The  present  improved  state  of 
the  Department  for  the  Insane  could  never  have  been  attained 
without  the  thorough  co-operation  and  determination  of  those  in 
control  and  of  those  in  immediate  charge.  The  results  have  only 
to  be  seen  to  be  duly  appreciated  and  highly  commended.  The 
improvements  have  steadily  advanced,  and  will,  doubtless,  from 
year  to  year. 

'' '  This  report  has  shown  that,  with  the  single  exception  of 
outside  exercising  and  working  space  (and  this  matter  has  been 
unduly  exaggerated),  the  insane  poor  of  this  city  are  as  well  cared 
for  at  Blockley,  in  the  present  improved  state,  as  are  the  patients 
in  any  other  public  hospital  in  Pennsylvania.' 

"  Signed  by 

"  George  I.  McLeod,  M.  D.,  Chawvtan. 
"  Henry  M.  Wetherill,  M.  D.,  Secretary. 

"  No  such  report  as  that  could  have  been  made  previously. 
The  conditions  did  not  exist,  and  spare  clothing  was  unknown, 
there  being  hardly  enough  to  cover  them.  Many  had  no  socks  or 
stockings,  and  blankets  were  scarce  articles.  It  is  different  now, 
and  all  are  comfortably  clothed. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


•4HI 


"  Dr.  D.  E.  Hughes,  Chief  Resident  Physician,  said  :  '  In 
bringing  to  a  close  this  report,  I  cannot  allow  the  opportunity  to 
pass  of  expressing  my  deep  feelings  of  gratitude  to  Superintend- 
ent Lawrence.  Not  only  has  he  heartily  co-operated  in  every  effort 
to  improve  the  work  of  the  Hospital  and  Insane  Departments,  but 
he  has  raised  and  broadened  the  character  of  the  institution  by  his 
wise  suggestions,  his  enlightened  views  and  his  wide  experience. 
The  duties  of  a.  trying  position  have  been  made  less  arduous  by  his 
able  and  intelligent  administration  of  the  affairs  of  the  institution.' 

"  Under  the  Act  of  May  25,  1897,  we  have  collected  from  the 
Commonwealth  $259,368.77,  which,  together  with  the  $67,996.39 
collected  under  the  Act  of  June  22,  1895,  makes  a  total  of  $327,- 
365.16  received  for  the  maintenance  of  our  insane  patients.  In 
addition,  we  have  another  bill  for  the  quarter  ending  February  28, 
1900,  amounting  to  $26,771.57. 

"  Not  one  dollar  could  have  been  collected  unless  the  proviso 
had  been  complied  with  and  the  '  Board  of  Public  Charities  satisfied 
that  the  quality  and  equipment,  and  care  and  treatment  furnished 
was  proper  and  suitable.' 

"A  comparison  of  population  shows  : 
1890,  average  population  2,919 
1899,,     "  "  3,604 


Increase  685 — 23.47  per  cent. 


\  Insane  Department. 

1890,  average  population     881     )  j^^^^^g^  501-56.87  per  cent. 
1899,       "  "  1,382     I 

"  The  7ze^  cost  per  capita  per  day  for  maintenance  and  repairs 
for  1890  was  : 


Children's 

Asvlum 

36.90 


Insane 

Depl's 

31.02 


Men's 

Outwards 

20.56 


Women's 

Outwards 

19.36 


Hospital 
Dep't 
39-13 


Institution 

Collective!}^ 

29.81 


"  The  house  receipts  were  credited  from  the  gross  amount 
expended  before  the  calculations  were  made.  To  get  the  £-7Vss  per 
capita  cost,  the  $5,255.66,  amount  of  house  receipts,  would  be 
divided  and  added.     This  would  add  to  the  institution  collectively 


882. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 


.49  of  a  cent  per  day,  making  the  per  capita  cost  30.30,  instead  of 
29.81,  which  is  the  net  cost. 

"  'X^Li^  gross  cost  per  capita  per  day  for  maintenance  and  repairs 
for  1899  w^s  • 


Children's 

Asylum 

31.76 


Insane 
Dept's 
31.54 


Men's 

Outwards 

19-15 


Women's 

Outwards 

21.08 


Hospital 
Dep't 
3992 


Institution 

Collectively 

29.87 


"  It  will  be  seen  that  the  gross  per  capita  for  1899  was  .43  of  a 
cent  less  than  it  was  in  1890.  When  we  credit  the  collections 
made  and  paid  to  the  City  Treasurer,  the  net  cost  per  capita  for 
1899  was  : 


Children's 
Asylum 


Insane 
Dept's 


Men's 

Outwards 

18.60 


Women's 

Outwards 

20.53 


Hospital 
Dep't 
39.37 


Institution 

Collectively 

19.31 


"  This  shows  that  the  cost  to  the  City  was  10.50  cents  less  per 
day  for  each  person  maintained  than  it  was  in  1890- 

"  The  net  cost  for  maintenance  and  repairs  in  1890  was 
$317,638.94;  in  1899,  notwithstanding  the  largely  increased  popu- 
lation and  superior  accommodations  and  treatment,  it  was  only 
$253,997.15,  or  $63,641.79  less.  While  the  gross  expenditures  of 
the  year  1899  were  $392,973.72,  we  collected  and.  returned  to  the 
City  Treasurer  during  the  year  $138,976.57,  or  more  than  35  per 
cent,  of  the  entire  amount.  In  a  yearly  report  of  the  State  Board 
of  Charities  occurs  the  following  : 

"  '  Our  visit  of  inspection  was,  as  usual,  made  without  any 
notification  of  the  officials.  Hence  it  was  found  in  its  general 
condition,  and  it  reflected  throughout  great  credit  on  Mr.  Charles 
Lawrence,  the  Superintendent,  and  his  subordinate  ofi&cials  and 
employees.  Indeed,  Mr.  Lawrence  has  shown  himself,  in  our  opin- 
ion, pre-eminently  qualified  for  the  office  he  fills,  and  we  believe 
Iiim  to  be  "  the  right  man  in  the  right  place."  ' 


Signed. 


Mahlon  H.  Dickinson,  President. 
CadwalIvADKR  Biddi^e,  Sec.  and  Agent. 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  383 

"  President  William  H.  Lambert,  after  seven  years'  close 
connection  with  this  department,  and  with  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  its  conditions  and  management,  in  his  last  annual  report,  after 
referring  to  the  improvements  made,  said :  '  This  work  has  been 
done  under  the  direct  supervision,  and  in  most  part  because  of  the 
recommendation  of  Superintendent  Lawrence,  whose  thorough 
acquaintance  with  the  details  and  needs  of  the  institution,  and 
whose  practical  knowledge  and  executive  ability  especially  qualif}^ 
him  for  the  management  of  the  business  of  the  great  community 
in  our  charge ;  to  him  we  are  indebted  for  many  valuable  sugges- 
tions and  improvements  in  buildings,  grounds  and  adminis- 
tration.' 

"  William  D.  Gardner,  Esq.,  after  eight  years'  service  on  the 
Board,  one  of  which  was  as  President,  said  in  his  report,  dated 
December  31st,  1899:  'I  desire  to  thank  the  Secretaries  of  the 
Bureaus,  the  Superintendents  and  other  officials  of  the  various 
departments  for  their  valuable  aid  and  assistance,  and  for  the  deep 
interest  evinced  in  the  management  of  their  affairs.' 

"All  of  the  gentlemen  quoted  have  had  years  of  experience 
and  know  whereof  they  speak.  Their  opinions  are  worth  considering. 

"  Here  is  an  institution  which  contains  more  than  4,000  poor 
people  unable  to  care  for  themselves,  suffering  from  all  kinds  of 
disease  and  infirmities,  who  are  looked  after  by  the  officials  of  this 
Bureau  after  their  friends  have  failed  them.  There  were  8,043 
patients  under  medical  care  and  treatment  during  the  year  1899. 
Four  hundred  and  forty-two  men  and  358  women  suffering  from 
acute  and  chronic  ailments  were  admitted  to  the  Detention  Wards 
during  the  year,  and  329  men  and  280  women  were  transferred 
from  there  to  the  Insane  Department. 

"  Seven  hundred  and  forty-six  men  and  86  women  were 
treated  in  the  '  Drunk  Wards.'  These  cases  were  mostly  brought 
in  police  patrol  wagons  from  station  houses. 

"  When  these  facts  are  considered,  it  can  be  seen  that  the 
safety,  not  alone  of  these  patients,  but  of  the  public  at  large,  is 
largely  insured  by  the  reception  of  these  degenerates,  many  of 
whom  are  public  nuisances  and  should  not  be  allowed  at  large. 


384  History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals. 

"  Here  is  a  city  containing  all  kinds  and  all  ages  '  from  the 
cradle  to  the  grave.' 

"  The  cleanliness  of  all  parts  of  these  immense  buildings  is 
remarked  by  all  who  visit  them.  The  inmates  are  better  cared  for, 
have  better  food  and  clothing,  at  less  cost  to  the  tax  payers  of 
Philadelphia,  than  ever  before. 

"  The  Institution  in  all  its  parts  will  compare  favorably  with, 
any  of  similar  character  in  this  or  any  otber  country,  and  what  was 
once  a  '  stench  in  the  nostrils  of  the  people '  is  now  an  honor  and 
credit  to  the  city.     Thus  I  leave  it  to  you," 

Respectfully  submitted, 

Charles  Lawrence, 
May  II,  1900.  Superintendent. 

Mr.  Lawrence  requested  the  City  Controller  to  have  all 
accounts  audited.  This  was  done  and  he  paid  to  the  Treasurer  of 
the  Board  the  sum  of  $5,280.54  which  settled  everything  in  full, 
according  to  the  books. 

When  he  found  that  the  amount  of  money  in  his  hands 
belonging  to  the  inmates  was  increasing  he  deemed  it  prudent  to 
arrange  for  a  special  deposit  of  a  part  of  it  upon  which  interest 
should  be  paid.  The  Centennial  National  Bank,  one  of  the  City's 
depositories,' agreed  to  allow  two  per  cent,  interest,  the  same  as  was 
paid  on  the  City's  money.  When  his  bank  account  was  settled 
there  was  a  credit  for  interest  amounting  to  $285.69.  The  money 
from  which  this  interest  accrued  did  not  belong  to  the  City,  and  as 
it  would  be  impracticable  to  attempt  to  distribute  it  amongst  the 
inmates  to  whom  it  did  belong,  he  asked  the  City  Solicitor  to 
advise  him  as  to  whom  he  would  be  justified  in  paying  it,  as  he 
knew  of  no  precedent  to  follow — ^.s  principal  is  not  alzu ays  paid  and 
interest  is  frequently  overlooked — and  desired  to  be  of&cially 
informed  as  to  the  proper  course  to  pursue. 

Some  persons  would  not  have  taken  the  same  trouble ;  they 
would  simply  end  the  matter  by  keeping  the  money,  and  saying 
nothing  about  it. 

City  Solicitor  Kinsey,  after  considering  the  matter  for  about 


History  of  Philadelphia  Almshouses  and  Hospitals.  385 

two  weeks,  replied  by  saying  :  "  I  think  you  should  pay  the  interest 
into  the  City  Treasury." 

This  was  accordingly  done,  a  receipt  taken  therefor,  and  the 
Superintendent  retired  from  as  clean  an  Administration  as  that,  or 
any  other  institution,  ever  had. 

No  scandals  of  any  kind,  no  reflections  of  mismanagement  or 
dishonesty  were  even  hinted  during  his  term.  He  was  instru- 
mental in  collecting,  and  turning  over  to  the  City  Treasury,  more 
money  for  the  City  than  all  of  his  predecessors  combined.  Not 
one  dollar  was  expended  extravagantly ;  the  City  received  full 
value  in  return  ;  every  penny  received  was  properly  accounted  for, 
and  he  had  the  proud  satisfaction  of  feeling  that  no  man  had  ever 
left  a  position  of  so  much  responsibility  with  a  better  or  more 
honest  reputation  than  he  had  earned.  The  following  letter  was 
sent  to  him  by  the  Chairman  of  the  Medical  Staff,  Dr.  R.  G. 
Curtin  : 

"  My  dear  Captain  Lawrence  : 

"  I  was  sorry  to  hear  of  your  departure  from  the  Philadelphia 
Hospital  and  Almshouse. 

"  It  is  not  often  that  a  man  remains  in  office  nine  years  at 
'  Blockley'  with  the  record  that  you  left  behind  you — not  even  a 
whisper  detrimental  to  your  character — I  never  heard  any  one  inti- 
mate that  you  had  in  any  way  deviated  from  the  path  of  rectitude 
while  Superintendent. 

"  Such  a  record  you  and  your  family  may  well  be  proud  of. 
In  your  future  days  it  will  be  a  comfort  to  you  to  know  that 
you  not  only  served  your  country  faithfully  but  also  your  city. 

''  I  am  with  highest  esteem. 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed)         Roland  G.  Curtin." 


25 


APPENDIX. 


LIST  OF    THE   FORMER   RESIDENT    PHYSICIANS    OF    THE 
PHILADELPHIA   HOSPITAL. 

By  EDWARD  R.  STONE,  M.D.,  W.  A.  N.  DORLAND,  M.D. 
AND  C.  K.  MILLS,  M.D. 


The  number  in  the  second  column  refers  to  the  year  of  appointment  to  the  hospital  • 
the  third  column,  to  the  college. 

U.  of  P.,  University  ot  Pennsylvania;  Jeff.,  Jefferson  Medical  College;  W.  M.  C' 
Woman's  Medical  College  of  Pennsylvania;  Medico-Chi.,  Medico-Chirurgical  College' 
Univ.  City  N.  Y.,  University  of  City  of  New  York;  Penna.  M.  C,  Pennsylvania  Medical 
College  (extinct). 


'd 


Abbott,  Harvey  N.  . 

Abbott,  W.  L 

Abel,  Fred.  T.,  dec'd 
Albertson,  William  C 
Alleman,  Frank  .    . 
Alexander,  Clara  J 
Allen,  Harrison,  dec 
Allis,  Oscar  H..  .   . 
Allison,  E.  W.  .    .    . 
Allyn.  Herman  B.  . 
Ames,  Robert  P.   .    . 
Anderson, George  B., dec'd 
Angeny,  Granville  L 
Angney,  William  M  .  . 
Armstrong,  Alex.  .    . 
AsHTON,  Thomas  G.  .  . 
Atlee,  William  A.,  Jr. 
AuGE,  Truman   .... 


Baker,  P.  B.  L  .  .  .  . 
Baldwin,  Helen  .    . 

Baldy.  J.  M 

Ball   P^dward  S.,  dec'd 
Bardsley,  Geo.  Ashton 
Barksdale,  R. 
Barnes,  Charles  S.  . 
Bartles,  William  H. 

Bakrisiek 

Bkechek,  A.  C.W.,  dec'd. 
Behrend,  Moses  .  . 
Bellows,  Horace  M. 
Benton.  Charles  H.,  dec 
Benton,  John  H.,  dec'd 

BhKENS,  iiEKNARD  . 

Bekens,  Joseph,  dec'd  . 
Bekens,  T  Passmore  . 
Bektolet'ie,  D.  N.   .    . 


79 

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84 

U.  of  P. 

76 

U.  of  P. 

86 

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81 

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77 

Jeff. 

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79 

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88 

Jeff 

87 

U.  of  P. 

92 

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84 

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78 

97 

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52 

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98 

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65 

Jeff 

43 

67 

Jeff. 

99 

U.  of  P. 

61 

U.  of  P. 

59 

48 

U.  of  P. 

80 

U.  of  P. 

75 

U.  of  P. 

87 

U.  of  P. 

721 

Jeff 

Beyea,  Harry  D 

BiRKEY,  Thomas  W.,  dec' 

Bitting,  Miriam 

Black,  John  J 

Blackford,  Benjamin.  . 

Bliss,  A.  A 

Bloomfield,  J.  C 

Boardman, Charles  H.  . 
Boenning,  H.  C.  .  .  .  . 
Boston.  L.  Napoleon  .  . 
BoTSFORD,  William,    dec' 

Bower,  J.  L 

Bowman,  F.  S 

Boyd,  John  S 

BOYER,  Z.  P 

Bradfield,  G.  M 

Bradley,  Alfred  E.  .  .  . 
Bradley,  Michael   .    .    . 

Brady,  Elliot  T 

Bragg,  J.  C 

Braxton,  Tomlin  .... 
Brechemin,  L. 
Brick.  Joseph  Coles    .    . 
Bricker,  Charles  E.  .    . 

Brister,  John  M 

Brooke,  BenjaiMin 
Brooke,  Harriet  W.,  dec' 

Brown,  C.  H 

Brown,  G.  S 

Bruen,  E.  T.  ,  dec'd  .  .  . 
Bruner,  W.  E.        ... 

Buck,  Sami;el  T 

Buck,  W.  P 

Budd,  A.  V 

I^umstead,  Charles  ... 
Bunce,  T.  S.,  ciec'd   ... 

BURTENSHAW,  J.  H.     .     .     . 


91 

51 

89 
65 

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.  96 
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86 
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U.  of  P. 

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U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

Medico-Chi. 

Jeff. 

Jeff. 

Medico-Chi. 

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U.  of  P. 

76  :U.  of   p. 

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Jeff. 

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W.  M.  C. 
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leff. 

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U.  of  P. 


U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 


387 


388 


Appendix. 


Burnett,  J.  W.,  dec'd  ... 
BuRWELL,  Geo.  N.,  dec'd  . 
Bush,  Lewis  P..  dec'd  .  . 
Buxton,  Joseph  T 

Cali.ahan,  Andrew,  Jr.  .    . 

Campbell,  H.  E 

Campbell,  H.  S 

Carpenter,  W.  H 

Carter,  Charles,  dec'd  .  . 

Carter,  W.  S 

Chase,  A.  F.  .  .       

Chase,  Robert  H 

Christie,  S.  P 

Clarke,  Floyd  S 

Cohen,  J  Solis 

Cohen,  Meyer  S 

Coleman,  J.  S.,  dec'd  .  .  . 

Coleman,  P.  T 

Cone,  Claribel  .  ... 
Corbet,  W  B.,  dec'd    .    .    . 

Cousins  A.  S.  .      

CowGiLL,  Clayton  A.  .  .  . 
CoYLE,  Robert  ....... 

Craig,  James  A 

Craig,  W.  F 

Craig,  William  G 

Craig,  T.  C 

Crowell,  Elisha 

Crowell,  G.  M 

Cruice,  John  M 

Cullen,  J  S.  Dorsey,  dec'd 
Culpepper,  W.  A.,  dec'd.  . 

cummings,  j.  b 

Cummiskey,  James. 
Cunningham,  Edward  J.    . 

Curry,  G.  E 

CuRTiN,  Roland  G 

Curtis,  L.  W 

Da  Costa.  J.  Chalmers  .  . 
Daggett,  William  G.  .  .  - 
Darby,  J  F.,  dec'd  .  .  .  ,  . 
Darrach,  George  M.  .   .   . 

Dashiel,  T.  K 

Davis,  A.  M 

Davis,  James  A 

Davis,  Sidney 

Davis,  T.  D 

Day,  George  E 

Dease,  Stephen  S 

Deaver,  R.  W 

De  Benneville,  J.  S 

Dercum,  Clara  T 

De  Silver.  Joseph  F.    .    .    . 

Dessau,  S  Henry 

Dillon,  J.  D.,  dec'd  .    .    .    . 

Diller,  Theo 

Dinsmore.  F.  M 

Dixon,  E.  D.    .        .    .    .    .    . 

DoAN,  Henry  H 

Dock,  C 

Dodge,  C.  L 


Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

Jeff. 

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Jeff. 

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W.  M.  C. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

Jeff. 

DOLAN,  W.  K 

Donnelly,  M.  A.,  dec'd  .    . 

DoNOHO,  Albert  P 

Donohue,  Michael  J. .  .    . 

Dorland,  W.  A.  N 

Dorrance,  Henry,  dec'd  . 

Dripps,  J.  H 

DuER,  Edward  L 

Duhring,  Louis  A 

Dulles,  Charles  W.   .   .    . 

DwiGHT,  Henry  E 

Dvson,  J.  R 

Eberman,  Henry  F 

Edgar,  John  M 

Edg£k,B.J.  .    .    . 

Edwards,  Joseph  S.,  dec'd 

Edwards,  W.  A 

Edwards,  W.  F.,  dec'd  .  .   . 

Elder,  F.  H.  

Elmer.  Henry  W 

Elmer,  William,  dec'd  .  .  . 
Eshelman,  E.  E.,  dec'd  .    . 

Eshner,  a.  a 

Esterly,  D.  E 

Evans,  E.  W 

Eversfield,  W.  C 

Fairfield,  J.  H 

Farnham,  Alice  May  .   .   . 

Fell,  Jonathan 

Fisher,  William  E 

Fitzpatrick,  Wm.  J 

Flick,  L.  F 

Ford,  William  H.,  dec'd.  . 
Fox,  George  Henry  .  .  . 
Fraley,  Frederick  .    .    .    . 

Erase  

Free,  G.  B.  M 

French, Samuel  

Freund,  H.  H 

Garrett,  E.  F.,  dec'd  .    .    . 

Gaylord,  H.  R 

Geisler,  Howard  D.  .    .    . 

Gerson,  T.  P 

Gibb,  Joseph  S 

Gilbert,  John  E  ,  dec'd  .    . 

Gilmore,  a 

Gilpin,  Sherman 

Girvin,  Edward  R 

GiRviN,  Robert  M.,  dec'd  . 

GiTHENs,  Thomas  S 

Githens,  W.  H.  H 

Godfrey,  Henry  G 

Golden,  Henry 

Goodman,  H.  E.,  dec'd  .  . 
Gorgas,  S.  R.,  dec'd  .  .  .  . 
Gotwald,  D.  K.  ... 

Graber,  Leon  J.  K 

Graham,  A.  H 

Graham,  E.  E 

Grayson,  Charles  P.  .   .   . 


80] 

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79 

Jeff. 

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86 

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86 

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47 

U.  of  P. 

79 

Jeff. 

60 

U.  of  P. 

67 

U.  of  P. 

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U.  of  P. 

67 

U.  of  P. 

97 

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79 

U.  of  P. 

80 

U.  of  P. 

97 

U.  of  P. 

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U.  of  P. 

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U.  of  P. 

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U.  of  P. 

82 

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Jeff. 

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64 

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Jeff. 

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99 

U.  of  P. 

97 

U.  of  P. 

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Jeff. 

82 

U.  of  P. 

Appendix. 


389 


Griffith,  S.  H.  .  . 
Gross,  S.  W.,  dec'd 
GuiTERAS,  Daniel  . 
GuiTERAS,  John  .  . 
GuiTERAS,  G    M.  .    . 

Guthrie,  G.  W.  .   . 


H 


Hacklev,  C.  E.      ... 
Haehnlen,  W.  F.  .    .    . 

Hagy,  J.  A 

Haines,  Josiah  .... 
Halberstadt,   George 

Hale,  George 

Hall,  John  C,  dec'd   .    .    . 

Hall,  J.  H 

Hall,  William  R 

Hallowell,  William  H.  . 
Hamill,  R.  H.  ... 

Hamill  Samuel  M 

Hammo.vd,  Clara  M.    .    .    . 

Hancock,  E.  C 

Hardy,  Benjamin  F.,  dec'd 
Harris,  Charles  M.,  dec'd 

Harris,  T.  J 

Harrison,  J.  M 

Hawlev,  B  F 

Hazlett,  E.  E 

Hearne,  James  C 

Heath,  VVilliam  H.  .  . 

Heller  Jacob  B. 

Helm,  William  H.,  dec'd    . 

Henderson 

Henley.  Leo 

Henry,  C.  P 

Herchelroth,  J.  Grant    . 
Hetrick,  Caroline  .    .    .    . 

Hewitt,  Gkorge  A 

Hickman,  H.  ... 

HiGGINBO  IHAM,  EdWARD  G. 

HiNKLE,  William  H.    .    . 
Hitschler,  William    .    .    . 

Hitz,  Henry  B 

Hoffman,  Joseph  E.    .    .   . 
Hoffman  W.  A  ,  dec'd 
Holland,  Daniel  J.,  dec'd 
Holland,  J.  W.  .... 

Holloway,  Thomas  B.   .    . 

Holmes,  E.  W 

Hoonaman,  G.  H 

Horwitz.  L.  N.,  dec'd 
Horwitz,  Theo.,  dec'd  .  . 
Hough,  J.  Stockton,  dec'd 
Houston,  Jas.  P.  S..  dec'd  . 
Housekeeper,  F.  P 
Howe,  Henry  D 
Hug   Edward  V. 
hughfs,  d.  e.  .  . 
Hughes,  F.  W.   . 
Hull.  George  S. 
Hume,  J.  E. 
Humphrey,  G.  E. 
Hunt,  Elizabeth  G.  . 
Hurlock,  F.  J.    .    .    . 


U.  of  P. 
JefF. 
U.  of  P. 
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U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 

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JefF. 
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U.  of  P. 
W.  M.  C. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 

Jeflf. 

Jeff. 
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U.  of  P. 


U. 
Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 

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Jeff. 

n.  of  P. 
u.  of  P. 
U.  of  p. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff, 
feff. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  ofP. 
U.  of  P. 
W.  M.  C. 
Jeff. 


Hutchinson,  G.  H.,  dec'd.  jSo 
Hutchinson,  Randall  .  .  87 
Hutchinson,  R.  C.       ...   80 


Ingram,  Samuel  D. 
Irish,  W.  B 


72 
78 
78 
64 
77 
47  U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi. 

W.  M.  C. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 
of  P. 


Jamar,  John  H |6i 

Jameson,  E.  W.,  dec'd  .  .  .  j7o 
Jameson,  William  B.   ...   86 

Jamison,  J.  Ross 94 

Janney,  Frances  S 90 

Jenkins.  S.  R (84 

Jenks,  William  F.,  dec'd  .  166 

Jessof,  S.  A.  S 1 80 

Jewitt,  Mary  B 196 

JiMINEZ,  J.  M J69 

Jiminez,  S.  M 1 79 

Johnson,  N.  L [91 

Johnston,  A.  R '82 

Johnston,  John 99 

Kahn,  Joseph ^89 

Karcher,  William  L.  .  .  .  Ion 
Keating,  John  M.,  dec'd.  .  |74 
Keating,  Wm.  V.,  dec'd  .  .  44 
Keefer,  F.  R.  .  .    .    .    .  |89 

Keller,  Harry  M 187 

Kelly,  E.  P.  B j  58 

Kerlin,  E.  j.    .        :86 

Kerr,  J.  W.,  dec'd \n 

Kerr,  James  W 39 

Ketcham,  S.  R 89 

King  182 

King,  William  H '94 

Kirk,  L.  H ^78 

KiSTLER,  Clinton  J  .  ...  96 
Kleinstuber,  William  S.  .    93 

Kluttz,  W.  C. 99 

Koch   James  L. 96 

Koerper,  Joseph 162 

Knox,  John |77 

KoLLOCK,  Charles  W.  .  .181 
KuGLER,  G.  W. :85 


U  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi. 
Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of,P. 


Lake,  David  H 

Landis,  H.  G.,  dec'd.    .    .    . 

Landis,  H.  R.  M 

Lapin,  F.  S.  .... 

Large,  Octavius  P 

Lazarus,  S.  D..  dec'd.  .  .  . 
Lee,  Chas.  Carroll,  dec'd 

Leete,  James  M 

Leidy,  Philip,  dec'd  .... 

Levy,  Henry  H 

Leys,  J.  L 

Lichty.  John  A.  .  ... 

Light,  Samuel  D.  W.  .  .  . 
Lincoln,  Clarence  W.  .  . 
Lineaweaver,  J.  K.  .    .    .    . 

Linn,  G.  Wilds 

LIPPINCOTT,  Franklin  .  .  . 
Littig,  Lawrence  W.  .  .   . 


W.  M.  C. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 

Jeff. 

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U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

390 


Appendix. 


Little,  W.  T 

LoDER,  Percival  E 

Lodge,  John 

Lodge,  William  J 

Long,  William  S 

Lucas,  Emma  J 

Ludlow,  John  L.,  dec'd  .  . 
Ludlow,  R.  G.  .  .  .  . 
Lyman,  George  H.,  dec'd  . 
Lyon,  Charles  H 

MacCoy,  a.  W 

MacCracken,  G.  Y.      .   .    . 

Magoffin,  M.  M 

Maloney,  S.  O . 

Mann,  Charles  W.,  dec'd  . 

Marcus,  Herman  D 

Martin,  Charles  S 

Martin,  Joseph 

Matlack,  Elwood    .   .   .    . 

Matson,  E.  G 

Matthews,  E.  L.  B 

Matthews,  William  E.  .   . 

Maury,  F.  F 

May,  James  V 

McAuLEY,  James  A 

McBride,  G.  W.,  dec'd.    .    . 

McCamy,  R.  H 

McCarthy,'- Daniel  J.  .  .  . 
McCarty,  R.  H., dec'd  .  .  . 
McClees,  William  D.  .  .  . 
McClintock,  James,-  dec'd 

McCoy,  A 

McCoy,  Henry  W 

McCoNKEY,  Thomas  G.  .    . 

McClure,  W.  W 

McDonald,  A.  A 

McFarland Joseph  .  .  .  . 
McGill,  George  M.,  dec'd 

McGlinn,  John  A 

McGown,  b.  J 

McGuigan,  ij.  J 

McKee,  James  H.  .    /  .   .   . 

McKenyon       

McLaughlin,  Thomas  N.  . 
McMillan,  James  H.,  dec'd 
McPheeters,  William  M.  . 

Means,  J.  S 

Mears,  J.  Ewing 

Menah,  W.  McC 

Mercur,  John  D.  .  ... 
Merillat,  William  C  .  .    . 

Merritt,  Victor  S 

Milliken,  C.  W 

MiLLIKEN,  F.   H 

Miller,  Milo  G 

Miller,  Robert 

Milligan,  James  E.,  dec'd  . 

Mitchell,  James 

Moffitt,  William  J.  .  .  . 
Montegut,  Sidney      ... 

Montgomery,  E.  E 

Moore,  Dunlop,  Jr.  .... 


94 

U.  of  P. 

76 

Jeff. 

59 

59 

79 

U.  of  P. 

93 

W.  M.  C. 

41 

U.  of  P. 

64 

U.  of  P. 

4,3 

U.  of  P. 

99 

U.  of  P. 

70 

U.  of  P. 

77 

U.  of  P. 

62 

U.  of  P. 

99 

U.  of  P. 

66 

92 

Medico-Chi 

90 

U.  of  P. 

78 

U.  of  P. 

86 

U.  of  P. 

83 

U.  of  P. 

91 

W.  M.  C. 

87 

Jeff. 

62 

Jeff. 

97 

U.  of  P. 

74 

U  of  P. 

79 

U.  of  P. 

79 

U.  of  P. 

9,S 

U.  of  P. 

79 

U.  of  P. 

85 

U  of  P. 

58 

Jeff. 

88 

Jeff. 

64 

Jeff. 

90 

U.  of  P. 

64 

Jeff. 

74 

U.  of  P. 

89 

U.  of  P. 

61 

U.  of  P. 

99 

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79 

U.  of  P. 

87 

Jeff. 

92 

U.  ofP. 

74 

82 

G'rs;'t'n  Un 

88 

U.  of  P. 

40 

U.  of  P. 

59 

66 

Jeff. 

90 

U.  of  P. 

78 

Jeff. 

64 

U.  of  P. 

98 

Medico-Chi 

81 

U.  of  P. 

79 

U.  of  P. 

88 

U.  of  P. 

64 

Jeff. 

72 

U.  of  P. 

83 

U.  of  P. 

76 

Jeff. 

92 

74 

Jeff. 

93 

U.  of  F. 

Moore,  Edward  M 

Moore,  Henry  B 

Moore,  Isaac  H 

Morgan,  A.  C 

Morris,  S.  E 

MOSELY,  E.  B 

Moss,  William 

MowRY,  William  B.      .    .    . 
MoYER,  Sherman  T.  . 
Muhlenberg  F.,  dec'd    .   . 

Murphy,  Joseph  A 

Murray,  G.  D 

Murray,  James  M 

Murray,  R.  D 

MussER,  Milton  B.,  dec'd  . 
Musser,  John  H.  .  . 
Muttart,  George  W.  .  .  . 
Myers,  Sylvan 

Nagle,  Frank  O. 

Nead,  D  W 

Neale,  H.  M 

Neare,  C.  R 

Newgarden,  G.  J 

Newton,  R.  D 

NiCHOL,  William  L 

Nichols,  Henry  D 

Nichols,  W.  V 

Nicholson,  J.  L 

Nickerson,  L.  H.  a 

NoRRis,  Richard  F 

Novaes,  F.  deP 

Ohnesorg,  Karl 

Oliphant,  N.  B 

Oliver,  Charles  A 

O'Neill,  J.  WiLKs  .  ... 
O'Reilly,  Thomas  B.  .   .   . 

Owen,  J.  J 

Owens,  John  E 

Orvis,  Charles,  dec'd  .  .    . 

Parish,  William  H 

Parke,  William  E 

Parkhill,  Clayton  .... 

Parrish,  Robert  C 

Parry,  John  S.,  dec'd  .   .    . 

Patterson.  John  P 

Peck,  Elizabeth  L 

Pelham, J  W 

Pepper,  William 

Perkins,  F.  M 

Perry,  Hext  M.,  dec'd  .  .  . 

Perry,  John  C 

Pfahler,  George  E.  .  .  . 
Phillips,  Wm.  L.,  dec'd  .   . 

Phillips,  R.  J 

Phillrick.  Inez  C 

Pickett,  William  C. 
PicoTT,  Mitchell  H.,  dec'd 

Plumer,  a  J. 

Polk,  W.  Robeson    .   .    . 
Pollock,  Flora  


U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

Jeff 

U.  of  P. 

Un.C'vN.Y 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  (jf  P. 

Jeff. 

Jeff. 

Medii-o-Chi. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

Jefif. 

Jeff 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

Medico-Chi. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff 

U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 

Jeff. 

Jeff 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

W.  M.  C. 

Appendix. 


391 


PoLTER,  Thomas  C.  . 
Pontius,  N.  D.  .  .  . 
Porter,  William  G. 

Porter,  P..  B 

potsdamer,  j.  b.  .  . 
Potts,  Charles  S.  .  . 
Prefontaine,  L.  a.  . 
Preston,  Samuel  P.  . 
Price,  Helena  J.  .  . 
PURVES,  G.  M.  .       .    . 


Rabinovitch,  Louisa  G 
Radebaugh,).  M.  .   .   . 
Randall,  Edward,  Jr.  . 
Ransley,  Alexander  W. 

Rathbun,  F.  D 

Rectenwald,  John  J.  . 

Reed,  C.  H 

Reedy,  Walter  M.,dec 
Reeser,  Richard  .   .    . 

Reeve,  Josiah 

Reynolds,  Charles  R. 
Riesman,  David  .... 

Rex,  Oliver 

Reynolds,  F.  P 

Rhein,  John  H 

Richardson,  D.  D.    .    . 
Richardson,  Elliott,  dec 
Richardson,  George  H 
Richardson,  John  D. 
Ricio,  Semfrio,  dec'd 
RiTZ,  Charles  M.  .    . 
Roberts,  A.  S.,  dec'd 
Roberts,  Isaac  E. 
Roberts,  Thomas  S.  . 
Robeson,  W.  F.  .    .    . 
Robinson,  Edwin  T. 
Robinson,  Ernest  F. 
Robinson,  George  S. 
Robinson,  John  M.  . 
RoHRER,  George  R. 
Ronaldson,  Wm.  R.,  dec'd 
RooKER,  Herman  S.,  dec'd 
Root,  M.  P.  .    . 
Rosa,  W.  V.  V. 
Rosenau,  M.  J. 
rothrock,  j.  l 
Roussel,  a.  E. 
Rush,  Wm.  H.  . 
Rynier,  Van  Nest 

Sagerson,  John  L.    .   . 

Sailer,  J 

ScHivELY,  George  S.    . 

SCHNEIDEMAN,  T.  B.  .     . 
SCHROEDER.  HeNRY  F.   . 

Sears,  W.  H 

Sedgwick,  W.  N.   .    . 
Seltzer,  C.  Jay  .... 

Seymour,  A.  J 

Shaki'less,  Casper  W.  . 
Shaki'less,  William  T. 


U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 
U.  of  P. 


W.  M.C. 
U.  of  P. 

83 ;  u.  of  p. 

75iU.  of  p. 
79! Jeff. 
96  i  U.  of  P. 
82 !  U.  of  P. 


Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
Jeff. 

W.  M.  C. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
Jeff. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 

Medico-Chi. 

U.  of  P. 

Jeff. 

Jeff. 

Medico-Chi. 

Medico-Ciii. 

Jeff. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 


IShepi'ARD,  J 

:Sherakd,  C.  C,  dec'd    •    ■    ■ 

Sherk,  Henry  H 

Sherman,  M.  H 

iSHERRER,  Fred.  A 

I  Shew,  A.  M 

Shields,  William  G.,  Jr.    . 

Shiffert,  Herbert  O.    .    . 

Shimer,  William  S 

Shimmell,  James  S 

Shumway,  E.  a 

Small,  J.  F 

■Smith,  A.  S 

Smith,  Allan  J 

Smith,  Charles  E.,Jr.  .  .    . 

Smith,  D.  K 

Smith,  Fisher,  dec'd    .    .    . 

I  Smith,  HA.  

I  Smith,  Robert  K,  dec'd  .  . 
[SoMMER,  George  N.  J.  .  .  . 
jSommerkamp,  R.  F.  . 

Southern,  F.  L 

Sparks,  George  W 

I  Spear,  Raymond 

Spence,  J.  E 

i  Spencer,  Thomas  R.  .  .  . 
'Stackhouse,  C.  P 

Stahl,  B.  F 

iStamm,  E.  p.,  dec'd  .... 
;!  Steele,  J.  Dutton 

Stehman,  H.  B 

i  I  Stengel,  Alfred  .  .  .  .  . 
jJStelwagon,  H.  W 

Stetson,  J.  B 

I  Stevens.  A  A 

I  Stewart,  W.  H 

Stewart,  A.  H.,  dec'd  .  .  . 
I  Stewart,  Walter  M.,  dec. 

Stille,  Alfred,  dec'd  .  .  . 
[Stivers,  Charles  G.  .  .  . 
!  I  Stone,  Edward  R 

Stryker,  S.  S 

Sutton,  R.  S 


Tabb,  John  B 

Taggart,  Thomas  D.   .    . 
Taggart,  Wm.  H.,  dec'd 

Tally,  Fr.ank  W 

Tally,  James  E 

Taylor,  G.  B 

Taylor.  J.  L 

Taylor,  Robert  A.  .    .    . 

Taylor,  Sarah  M 

Thomas,  Ada  R 

Thompson,  dec'd    .    .    .    . 

Topping,  G.  G 

Trubv,  Willard  F.  .    .    . 
Tucker,  Henry      .    .    .    . 

Tuteur,  Edwin  B 

TuTTLE,  James  P 


Upshur,  George  L. 


62 

U.  of  P. 

60 

U.  of  P. 

87 

Jeff. 

qi 

W.  M.  C. 

qS 

iMedico-Chi. 

65 

Jeff. 

00 

U.  of  P. 

99 

Medico-Chi. 

86 

U.  ofP. 

81 

Jeff. 

94 

U.  of  P. 

89 

U.  of  P. 

76 

Jeff. 

8b 

U.  of  P. 

65 

U.  of  P. 

96' 

U.  of  P. 

47 

U.  of  P. 

7.S 

U.  of  P. 

,SB 

94 

U.  of  P. 

99 

U.  of  P. 

90 

Jeff. 

6.5 

Jeff. 

95 

Jeff. 

70 

Jeff. 

40 

U.  of  P. 

98 

Medico-Chi 

87 

U  of  P. 

81 

U.  of  P. 

9,i 

U.  of  P. 

78 

Jeff. 

89 

U  of  P. 

75 

U.  of  P. 

97 

U.  of  P. 

87 

U.  of  P. 

92 

Jeff. 

82 

U.  of  P. 

65 

U.  of  P. 

S6 

U.  of  P. 

92 

U.  of  P. 

72 

Jeff. 

66 

U.  of  P. 

65 

U.  of  P. 

43 

Jeff. 

q6 

Medico-Chi 

52 

U.  of  P. 

87 

U.  of  P. 

92 

U.  of  P. 

85 

U.  of  P. 

s8 

U.  of  P. 

86 

Jeff. 

90 

W.  M.  C. 

9.3 

W.  M.  C. 

78 

73 

Jeff. 

98 

U.  of  P. 

94 

Jeff. 

90 

Jeff. 

81 

U.  of  P. 

43 

U.  of  P. 

392 


Appendix. 


Vandervoort,  C.  A.    ...   941 

Van  Epps,  Clarence    .    .    .    gg\U.  oi  P. 

Van  Gasken,  F.  C.      ...   91  W.  M.  C. 

Van  Harlingen,  A 68;  U.  of  P. 

Vanneman,  W.  S ;89'U.  of  P. 

Van  Valzah,  W.  W j  76  Jeff. 

Vogler,  George  W.,  dec'd   77  U.  of  P. 

Voorhees,  N.  W 183  U.  of  P. 

Voorhees,  Shepard.   .   .   .  !89  U.  of  P. 


Walker,  James  B 

Walker,  John  S 

Walker,  Thomas  L.,  dec'd 
Wallace,  Joseph  D.  . 
Wallace.  William  H.,  Jr. 
Walters,  Charles,  dec'd  . 

Waples,  M.  H 

Ware,  J.  D 

Waring.  James  J.,  dec'd  .    . 
Wehner,  William  H.  .  .    . 

Wei  DM  an,  W.  M 

Weightman,  John  F.,  dec'd 
Weisenburg,  Theo.  H.  .    . 

Wells,  George  M 

Wells,  P.  F 

Welsh,  John  C 

Werkel 

Weston,  George  D 

Wetherill,  H.  E 

Wetherill,  H.  M 

Whelan.  Alfred 

White,  Courtland  Y.    .    . 


1 U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
MedicoChi, 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
JefF. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
JefF: 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 


U.  of  P. 

U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 
I U.  of  P. 
U.  of  P. 


White,  J.  William    . 
Whitehead,  P.  F. 
WiLLARD,  Deforest 
Willetts.  E.  Miles  . 
Williams,  Augusta  G 
Williams,  E.  Newlin 
WlLLITTS,  C.  H. .    .    . 

Wills,  W.  L 

Wilson,  F.  G 

Wilson,  James  F.,dec' 
Wilson,  JohnJ.  .  .   . 

Wilson,  W.  R.  .      . 
vvollerton,  s.  h.  .  . 
Wood,  B.  S.  .   .   .   .   . 

Wood,  George,  dec'd 

Wood,  H.  C 

Woodbury,  Frank  T. 
Woodhouse,  Samuel  W. 
Woodruff,  Charles  E. 

Woods,  C.  H 

Woods,  D.  F 

woodville  j.  l.   .   .    . 


Yeager,  George  C. 
Yenney,  Robert  C. 
Young,  James  K.    . 
Young,  W.  W.  .  .    . 


Zacherle,  O.  F.  .  .  . 
Zerfing,  Charles  E. 
Zimmer,  John  .... 


u. 

of  P. 

Te 

fF. 

U. 

of  P. 

JefF. 

W 

.  M.  C. 

u. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

u. 

oC  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

Te 

fF. 

U. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  p. 

Medico-Ch 

U. 

of  p. 

Je 

[F. 

U. 

of  P. 

U. 

of  P. 

U. 

of  p. 

JefF. 

U. 

of  p. 

U. 

of  p. 

u. 

of  p. 

Te 

fF. 

U. 

of  P. 

u. 

of  P. 

CHRONOLOGICAL   LIST   OF   MEMBERS 


Medical    Boards    of   the    Philadelphia    Hospital 

Krom    1768    to    1900. 

By  CHARLES  K.  MILLS,  M.D. 


[This  list  probably  contains  many  omissions  and  not  a  few  mistakes,  as  many  difficul- 
ties have  attended  its  preparation,  in  which  have  been  consulted  Dr.  Agnew's  "  Medical 
History  of  the  Philadelphia  Almshouse,"  Thatcher's  "Medical  Biography,"  Ruschfenberger's 
"History  of  the  College  of  Physicians,"  the  Catalogues  of  the  Alumni  of  the  Medical 
Department  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  the  Jefferson  Medical  College,  the 
Annual  Statements  of  the  Boards  of  Guardians  of  the  Poor  and  of  the  Board  of  Charities 
and  Correction,  and  the  written  minutes  of  the  Governing  Boards  since  1859.  Members  ot 
the  Medical  Board  have  also  been  personally  consulted  in  efforts  at  verification.  I  shall  be 
glad  to  receive  any  corrections  or  additions  from  any  one  who  may  examine  the  table. — 
C.  K.  M.] 


MEDICAL  STAFF. 


Name.  Service 

began. 

Cadwalader  Evans    .    .    .  176S 

Thomas  Bond 1768 

Adam  Kuhn 1774 

Benjamin  Rush 1774 

Samuel  DuFFiELD 1774 

Girardus  Clarkson  .   .    .  1774 
GiRARDUs  Clarkson  .    .    .  1788 

Thomas  Parke 1774 

George  Glentworth  .  .    .  1779 

D.  Jackson      .  1779 

James  Hutchison 1780 

Wilson 1780 

Caspar  Wistar 1788 

J.  R.  Rodgers 1788 

Michael  Leib 1788 

John  Morris 1788 

Samuel  P.  Griffiths  .    .    .  1788 

N.  B.  Watres 1789 

William  Shippen 1789 

Cumming 1795 

Pleasants  ..... 

Samuel  Clements,  Jr.    .    .  1796 

William  Boyce 1796 

Samuel  Cooper 1796 

John  Church 1797 

Thomas  C.  James 1797 

John  Proudfit 1801 


Service   ,                           Name.         ■                     Service  Service 

ended.    I                                                                    begau.  ended. 

Philip  S.  Physick 180 1  1805 

1779       Charles  Caldwell  ....  1801  1804 

1776  Elijah  Griffiths  .   -       .    .  1801  iSio 

1777  Benjamin  L.  Barton  .   .    .  1804  1805 

i8qi       Samuel  Stewart 1804  1810 

1777       John  Rush 1804 

1790       James  Reynolds 1804  1807 

1779       James  Hutchinson  .    .    .    .1805  1805 

1781       Isaac  Cathrall 1805  1811 

1781        Peter  Muller  ......  1805  1811 

1781       John  Syng  Dorsey  ....  1805  1811 

1781       John  Syng  Dorsey  .             1814  1815 

1790       Nathaniel  Chapman  .   .    .  1807  1815 

1789  Nathaniel  Chapman  .   .    .  1822  1832 

1790  Joseph  Parrish 1807  iSii 

1789       Samuel  Stewart i8io  1822 

1789  Joseph  Klapp 1810 

1790  Joseph  Klapp 1815  1822 

1790       Thomas  Hewson 1811  1822 

Joseph  Hartshorne   .   .    .  1818  1820 

1797       Samuel  Calhoun 1821  1822 

1797       William  P.  C.  Barton   .    .  1821  1822 

1801       William  E.  Horner   .    .    .  1822  1833 

1796       Samuel  Jackson 1822  1845 

1805       John  K.  Mitchell  ....  1822  1827 

1811       Richard  Harlan 1822  1822 

1804       Hugh  L.  Hodge 1822  1835 

393 


394 


Chronolog^ical  List  of  Members  of  Medical  Boards. 


MEDICAL  ST KF¥— Continued. 


Name.  Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

Samuel  George  Morton  .  1827  1S35 

Jacob  Randolph 1832  1837 

William  H.  Gerhard    .   .  1835  1S45 

Joseph  Pancoast 1835  1837 

William  Ashmead  ....  1835  1838 


Name. 

William  Ashmead 
N.  Stuardson . .   . 
Robley  Dunglison 
Edward  Peace  .    . 
Meredith  Clymer 


Service 

Service 

began. 

ended. 

1841 

1845 

1837 

1838 

1838 

1845 

1838 

1 841 

1843 

1845 

SURGICAL  STAFF. 


Name. 

Service 

Service 

began. 

ended. 

J.  Cathrall 

.     .   181I 

1822 

Peter  Miller 

.     .   181I 

1822 

Joseph  Parrish  . 

.    .  181I 

1821 

John  Rhea  Barton  .    . 

.     .  1820 

1822 

William  Gibson   .   .    . 

.     .  1821 

1822 

J.  V.  O.  Lawrence  .  . 
Richard  Harlan  .  .  . 
William  E.  Horner  . 
Joseph  Pancoast  .  .  . 
Charles  Bell  Gibson 


Service 
began. 

.  1822 
.  1822 
•  1832 
■  1837 
.  1838 


Service 
ended. 

1822 

1838 
1835 
1845 
1840 


OBSTETRICAL  STAFF. 


Name.  Service  Servjce 

began.  ended. 

Thomas  C.  James 1811  1821 

John  Moore 1818  1821 

Henry  Neill 1821  1835 

Nathan  Shoemaker    .    .    .  1821  1827 

Charles  Lukens 1827  1S27 

B.  Ellis 1827  1831 

F.  S.  Beattie 1831  1837 


Name.                              Service 

Service 

began. 

ended. 

Charles  Wistar  Pennock  1835 

1845 

William  D.  Brinkle  .    .    .  1837 

1839 

Charles  Bell  Gibson    .   .  1838 

1840 

Robert  M.  Huston             .  1S39 

1845 

James  McClintock  ....  1840 

184I 

William  H.  Gillingham  .  1841 

1845 

Administration   under   Chief    Resident   Officer. 


PHYSICIAN-IN-CHIEF. 

Name.  Service 

began. 

H.  S.  Patterson 1845 


Service 
ended. 

1845 


William  Bvrd  Page 
Meredith  Clymer  . 


Service 
began. 

•  1845 

•  1845 


CONSULTANTS. 


Service 
ended. 


N.  D.  Benedict 


Service 

Service 

began . 

ended. 

1845 

1845 

N.  D.  Benedict  . 

Haines  .  . 

J.  D.  Stewart    . 


PHYSICIANS-IN-CHIEF. 


Service 
began. 

•   1845 
■1853 


Service 
ended. 

1850 

1853 
1854 


Name.  Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

R.  T.  Coleman 1854  1854 

Archibald  B.  Campbell    .  1854  1854 


Chronological  List  of  Members  of  Medical  Boards. 


390 


Administration  by  Residents-in-Chief  and  Board  of 
Clinical  Lecturers. 


RESIDENTS-IN-CHIEF. 


Name.                              Service  Service 

begau.  ended. 

Archibald  B.  Campbell   .  1854  1855 

Robert  K.  Smith      ....  1855  1856 

Archibald  B.  Campbell    .  1656  1857 


James  McClintock 
Robert  K.  S.mith  . 


Service 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

•  1857 

•  1858 

1858 

LECTURERS  ON  CLINICAL  MEDICINE. 


Name.  Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

J.  L.  Ludlow 1854  1857 

Robert  Coleman 1854  1854 

Caspar  Morris 1854  1855 

Joseph  Carson 1855  1857 

Joseph  Carson 1858  1859 


Name.                            Serv-ice  Ser\'ice 

begau.  euded- 

J.   B.  BiDDLE 1855  1857 

J.  B.   BiDDLE 1858  1859 

J.  AiTKEN  Meigs 1858  1859 

S.\MUEL  Dickson 185S  1858 

J.M.  Da  Costa 1858  1S59 


LECTURERS  ON  CLINICAL  SURGERY 


Name.                              Service  Service 

begau.  ended. 

Henry  H.  Smith 1854  1857 

D.  H.  Agnew 1854  1857 

D.  H.  Agnew 1858  1859 

John  Neill 1855  1857 


Name.                              Service  Service 

begau.  ended. 

R.  P.  Thomas 1855  1857 

W.  S.  Halsey 1858  1859 

Richard  J.  Levis 1858  1S59 


LECTURERS  ON  OBSTETRICS  AND    DISEASES  OF  WOMEN  AND  CHILDREN. 


Service 
began. 


R.  A.  F.  Penrose 1854 

R.  A.  F.  Penrose 1858 

Wilson  Jewell 1855 


Service 
ended. 

1857 
1859 

1857 


began.     ended. 

Caspar  Morris 1855  1857 

E.  McClellan 1856  1S59 


MEDICAL  STAFF.i 


Name.  Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

J.  L.  Ludlow 1859  1885 

William  F.  Maybury  .    .    .  1S59  ^S^t 

Charles  P.  Tutt 1859  1S66 

Robert  Sucket 1859  1859 

J.  M.  Da  Costa 1859  1S65 

O.  A.  Judson 1861  1863 

George  J.  Zeigler   ....  i86j  1867 

Alfred  Stille  ...  1865  1872 

J.  S.  De  Benneville    .    .    .  1866  1866 

Edward  Rhoads 1S66  1870 

William  Pepper 1867  1884 

H.  C.  Wood 1870  1883 

James  Tyson 1872  i8Sq 

James  Tyson 1893  - 

John  M.  Keating 1875  1S77 

John  M.  Keating 1878  1880 

Edward  T.  Bruen  .  .   .       .  1875  1889 

James  C.  Wilson 1875  1889 

John  Guiteras 1875  18S0 

Roland  G.  Curtin  ....  1880 

S.J.  McFerran 1880  1884 


Name.  Service  Ser.iice 

began.  ended. 

J.  T.  Eskridge 1882 

VV.  G.  McConnell    .   .    .   .1882 

Joseph  F.  Neff 1884  18S7 

John  H.  Musser 1885 

William  Osler         .    .    .   .1885  1S89 

F.  P.  Henry 1888 

J.  M.  Anders 1889  1S96 

William  E.  Hughes    .    .    .  1889 

s.  solis-cohen 1889 

Eugene  L.  Vansant       .    .  1889  1896 

F.  A.  Packard 1892  1900 

Judson  Daland 1892  1895 

Samuel  Wolfe 1892  1900 

Julius  Salinger 1892 

H.  A.  Hare 1894 

Thomas  G.  Ashton  ....  1894 

A-  A.  EsHNER 1896 

Alfred  Stengel 1896 

Herman  B.  Allyn  .  .    .        .  1900 
David  Reisman 1900 


1  At  this  time  the  admini.stratiou  by  a  visiting  Medical  Board  was  resumed. 


396 


Chronological  List  of  Members  of  Medical  Boards. 


SURGICAL  STAFF. 


Name. 

Samuel  D.  Gross 
D.  Hayes  Agnew 
R.J.  Levis.  .    .    . 
R.  J.  Levis.  .    .    . 
Edward  L.  Duer 
R.  S.  Kenderdine 
J.  W.  Lodge  .  .    . 
W.  H.  Pancoast 
F.  F.  Maury  .  . 
John  H.  Brinton 
Harrison  Allen 
Samuel  W.  Gross 
N.  L.  Hatfield 
J.  William  White  . 
J.  William  White  . 
William  G.  Porter 
A.  A.  McDonald  . 


Service 
began. 

1859 
1859 

Ib82 

1862 

1859 
1864 
1865 
1865 
1866 
1870 
1874 
1875 
1875 
1892 

1875 
1878 


Service 
ended. 

1865 
1865 
1870 

1863 
1865 
1868 
1885 
1878 
1882 
1878 
1882 
1884 
1889 
1898 

1895 
188 1 


Name.  Service  Ser\'ice 

began.  ended. 

W.  S.  Janney 1877  1890 

George  McClellen    .   .    .  1880  1890 

A.  S.  Roberts 1881  1887 

W.  Joseph  Hearn  .  .       .   .  1882 

C.H.Thomas ,    .1882  1884 

A.  W.  Ransley 1885  1892 

Lewis  W.  Steinback  .    .    .  1885 

John  Blair  Deaver  ....  1887  1899 

Edward  Martin    .    .       .      1888  1889 

Edward  Martin 1892 

Orville  HoRwiTZ 1889 

Ernest  Laplace 1889 

James  M.  Barton 1890  1899 

J.  Chalmers  Da  Costa  .    .  1895 

Alfred  C  Wood 1895 

Charles  H.  Frazier  .    .    .  1898 

R.  A.  F.  Penrose 1859  1867 


OBSTETRICAL  STAFF. 


Name.  Service 

began. 

John  Wiltbank 1859 

William  D.  Stroud  ....  1859 
Lewis  Harlow  ...  .  1859 
George  J.  Ziegler  ....  1859 
A.  H.  Smith 1862 

E.  Schofield 1863 

F.  F.  Maury 1864 

Edward  L.  Duer 1863 

R.  M.  Girvin 1865 

J.  S.  Parry 1867 

George  Pepper 1870 

J-  V.  Ingham 1872 

W.  A.  Warder 1874 

J.  R.  Burden,  Jr 1874 

E.  E.  Montgomery  ....  1877 
E.  E.  Montgomery  ....  1886 

James  B.  Walker 1876 

S.  S.  Stryker 1876 

G.  W.  Linn 1876 

M.  B.  Musser 1877 


Service 
ended. 
1859 
1863 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1870 
1865 
1883 
1876 
1876 
1872 
1874 
i88[ 
1876 
1884 
1894 
1880 
1889 
1882 
1887 


W.  H.  Parish 

John  M.  Keating  .  .   . 
Clara  Marshall  .    .    . 
E.  P.  Bernardy  .... 
Hannah  P.  Croasdale 
Theophilus  Parvin  .  . 
Donnell  Hughes  .  -   . 
Eliott  Richardson  .  . 
Barton  C.  Hirst  .   .    . 
Edward  P.  Davis  .   .    . 
Wm  Easterly  Ashton 
Robert  H.  Hamill  .    . 
George  I.  McKelway  . 
J.  W.  West 

R.    C.  NORRIS  .    .    ,    .    . 

J.  M.  Fisher 

W.  Frank  Haehnlen  . 
Elizabeth  L.  Peck  .  . 
John  B.  Shober  .... 


Service 

Service 

began. 

ended. 

1876 

1889 

1880 

1890 

1882 

1895 

1882 

1884 

1882 

1884 

1S92 

1884 

1884 

1886 

1S86 

1887 

1889 

1889 

1894 

1890 

1896 

1890 

1892 

1894 

1894 

1894 

1895 

1895 

1S96 

NEUROLOGICAL  STAFF. 


Name.  Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

Charles  K.  Mills 1877 

H.  C.  Wood 1883  1887 

H.  C.  Wood 1887  1888 

Robert  Bartholow  .  .    .    .1887  1888 
Francis  X.  Dercum  ....  1887 


Name. 

James  Hendrie  Lloyd 
James  Hendrie  Lloyd 
Wharton  Sinkler  .  . 
C.  H.  Bradfute .... 
Charles  W.  Burr .  .   . 


OPHTHALMOLOGISTS. 


E.  O.  Shakespeare  . 
G.  E.  deSchweinitz 
Charles  H.  Thomas 


Service 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

1877 
1887 

1 888 

1S89 
1888 

Name. 

George  M.  Gould  . 
Charles  A.  Oliver  . 
Howard  F.  Hansell 


Service 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

1888 
1890 
1888 
1889 
1896 

18S9 
1900 
J  896 
1890 

Sen'ice 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

1889 
1894 

1894 

1900 

Chronological  List  of  Members  of  Medical  Boards. 


39i 


DERMATOLOGISTS. 


Name.                              Service  Service 

began.  euded. 

F.  F.  Maury 1S70  1S70 

Louis  DuHRiNG      1870  1877 

Louis  DuHRiNG 1877  1889 

Henry  W.  Stelwagon    .   .  1887 


Name. 


J.  A.  Cantrell  ... 
Milton  B.  Hartzell 
E.  S.  Gans 


Service 
began. 

.  1889 
.  1900 
.  1900 


Service 
ended. 

1900 


LARYNGOLOGISTS. 


Name. 

C.  Jay  Seltzer 


Service 
began. 

.  1890 


Name.  Service 

began. 

James  Tyson  . 187 1 

R.  M.  Bertolet 1872 

Joseph  Berens 1876 

E.  O.  Shakespeare  ....  1882 

Henry  F.  FoRMAD 1887 

John  Guiteras 1892 


Service 
ended. 

19CX) 


George  M.  Marshall  . 


PATHOLOGISTS. 


Service 
ended. 

1875 

1879 
18S9 
1892 


Name. 


W.  M.  L    COPLIN     . 

H.  W.  Cattell .    . 
E.  B.  Sangree    .    . 
W.  M.  L.  CoPLiN .  . 
Joseph  McFarland 
Simon  Flexner  .  . 


Service 
began. 

.   1890 


Service 
began. 

.  1892 
.  1898 
■  1895 


1900 
1900 


Service 
ended. 


Service 
ended 

1895 
1900 

1895 


E.  O.  Shakespeare 
A.  Ghriskey  .   .    . 


BACTERIOLOGISTS. 


Service 
began. 

.  1889 

.  1894 


Service 
ended. 


1896 


L.  N.  Boston 


Ser\'ice 
began. 

.  1898 


Service 
ended. 


Name. 


L.  L.  Hatch  .... 
H.  W.  Cattell  .  .  . 
William  B.  Jameson 


ASSISTANT   PATHOLOGISTS. 


Service 
began. 

.  1889 
.  1889 


Service 
ended. 

189I 

1895 
1900 


Ernest  B.  Sangree 
David  Bevan  .   .   .   . 


Service 
began. 

.  1892 
.  1892 


Scr\-ice 
ended. 

1895 
1895 


Name.  Service 

began. 

D.  Hayes  Agnew i860 

William  Pepper 1867 

R.  M.  Bertolet 1871 

R.  M.  Bertolet 1875 


CURATORS. 

Service 
euded. 

1867 
1871 
1872 
1876 


Service 


James  Tyson  .  .  . 
Joseph  Berens  .  . 
E.  O.  Shakespeare 


1872 
1876 
i8bo 


Ser\'icc 
ended. 

1875 
1879 
1882 


MICROSCOPISTS. 


Name.  Service 

began. 

James  Tyson 1866 

R.  M.  Bertolet 1872 


Service 
ended. 

1872 

1875 


Thomas  B.  Reed  . 
H.  F.  Formad  .  . 


PHYSICIANS  TO  THE  INSANE  DEPARTMENT. 


Name. 


Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

L.  Henley 1849  1852 

J.  H.  Benton 1852  1852 

L.  Henley 1852  1854 

Samuel  W.  Butler      .    .    .  1859  ^866 

D.D.Richardson 1866  18S0 

D.  D.  Richardson 1881  1885 


A.  A.  McDonald  .   .    - 

Philip  Lkidy 

William  H.  Wallace  . 
George  M.  Wells  .  . 
Daniel  E.  Hughes   .   . 


Service 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

1875 
1880 

1876 
1892 

Service 
began. 

Service 
ended. 

1880 

1881 

1885 
1887 
1887 
1890 

1887 
1887 
1890 

398 


Chronoloo;ical  Ivist  of  Members  of  Medical  Boards. 


CONSULTING  PHYSICIANS  TO  THE  INSANE  DEPARTMENT. 


S.  Weir  Mitchell. 
Horatio  C.  Wood  . 
Charles  K.  Mills  . 
Charles  K.  Mills  . 
Andrew  Nebinger 
James  A.  Simpson  . 


Service 
began. 

.  1884 
.  1884 
.  1884 
1890 
.  1885 
.  1886 


Service 
ended. 

1886 
1885 
1887 

1886 
1887 


Name.                            Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

Philip  Leidy 1886  1887 

F.  X.  Dercum 1890 

Wharton  SiNKLER   ....  1890  1896 

James  Hendrie  Lloyd.  .    .  1890  1900 

Charles  W.  Burr 1896 


Registrars. 


MEDICAL. 


Name.                              Service  Service 

began.  ended. 

W.  A.  Edwards 1885  1886 

C.J.  Seltzer 1886  1890 

F.  A.  Packard   ...           .  1890  1892 

Alfred  Stengel 1892  1895 


Name. 
H. TOULMIN  . 

H.  B.  Allyn.  . 
B.  F.  Stahl  .  . 
Joseph  Sailer 


Service 
began. 

.1895 

1895 

.  1900 

.  19O0 


Service 
ended_ 

1897' 
1900 


SURGICAL. 


Name. 

Edward  Martin 
C.  B.  Penrose  .  . 
J.  C.  Da  Costa.  . 


Service 
began. 

.  1885 
.  1888 

.  i8q2 


Service 
ended. 

1888 
1892 
1895 


John  H.  Gibbon 
R.  B.  Newton  .  . 


1895 
1900 


Service 
ended. 

1900 


OBSTETRICAL. 


Name. 

H.  A.  Pardee  .  . 
Edward  P.  Davis 
R.  H.  Hamill  .   . 


Service 
began. 

.  1885 
.  1887 
.  1888 


Service 
ended. 

1887 
t888 
1S90 


R.  C.  NORRIS    .    .    . 
W.  A.  N.  DORLAND 


Service 
began. 

.  1890 
.  1898 


Service 
ended. 

1894 


NERVOUS. 


Guy  Hinsdale   .   .    . 
Augustus  A.  Eshner 


Service 
began. 

■   1885 
.   1891 


Service 
ended. 

1892 
1896 


B.  F.  Stahl  .   . 
W.  C.  Pickett, 


Service 
began. 

.  1896 
.   1900 


Service 
ended. 

1900 


AN^STHETIZER. 


Service 
began. 


Charles  Lester  Leonard  1898 


Service 
ended. 


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History  of  the  Philadelphia 
almshou ses  and  hospitals 

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